Andorra Hotels Forecast 60% Winter Occupancy Amid EES Relief

Andorra's hotels anticipate occupancy rates around 60% this winter, matching last year's performance, with 70% of bookings confirmed nationwide for the Christmas peak from December 26 to January 4. Unió Hotelera d'Andorra president Jordi París noted 58% occupancy through mid-December, buoyed by early snow, strong bridge holidays, and robust demand. Director Albert Mora called the outlook "clearly optimistic," up from 55% at this point in 2024, with last-minute arrivals potentially exceeding 90%. Family groups and specialty tourists will prevail, though staffing gaps from Entry/Exit System (EES) uncertainties persist, forcing reliance on inexperienced hires and risking service levels.

Tourist apartments echo the positivity. Associació d'Empresaris d'Apartaments Turístics president Àlex Ruiz forecasts 90% occupancy at Christmas, reaching full capacity by New Year's, in line with 2024. Expected snow should draw visitors beyond Pas de la Casa, where a French farmers' blockade persists into its second week and could spur cancellations among French clients.

Recent bilateral talks have advanced EES accommodations. On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Imma Tor met Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares in Madrid, confirming negotiations on the border management agreement will start early 2026 to exempt Andorra from systematic EES checks. Spain will activate the system at Andorran borders in April 2026, aligning with the EU deadline of April 9-10, allowing gradual rollout without winter disruptions. Interior Minister Ester Molné, addressing lawmakers Friday alongside Tor, stressed no queues or major changes at borders, maintaining random checks while introducing pre-residency security screenings via Schengen databases for overstay alerts and threat risks.

Molné announced immigration law amendments for provisional work permits during screenings, ensuring seasonal hiring continuity. Officials reaffirmed Andorra's final say on entries, with enhanced police cooperation from neighbors. Spain reiterated support for Andorra's EU association agreement and cross-border projects, including an economic zone in Organyà to combat depopulation, an Agrupació Europea de Cooperació Territorial (AECT) potentially involving Occitania, and Albares's possible 2026 visit to finalize bilateral pacts. Andorrans and legal residents remain EES-exempt for EU travel, prompting an information campaign.

Business leaders praise the timeline for easing recruitment. Head of Government Xavier Espot emphasized origin-country hiring. Since July, immigration authorities conducted 1,452 checks on false border workers—those permitted in Andorra but employed in nearby La Seu d'Urgell—yielding 64 statements, 11 permit revocations, and 54 ongoing cases. Molné linked these to demographic growth's regional pressures, citing tightened quotas, eliminated detached worker categories, and stricter residency proofs as responses, fulfilling commitments to Spain. No impact on winter or summer seasonal permits has emerged.