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The Valencian Community opens the tourist season repeating the 2024 figures.

 

March marks the start of the tourist season, and this is already evident in the occupancy data and the volume of open and available hotel offerings. 

With over 92% of their availability open and marketed, tourist destinations in the Valencian Community have performed very similarly to 2024, repeating or approaching last year's occupancy figures. 

Just one exception: Valencia, both the province and the city, are struggling to consolidate their recovery after the Dana storm, with a significant number of cancellations due to the adverse weather conditions experienced during the first two weeks of March. The city of Valencia lost almost 10 points in hotel occupancy, with this drop being particularly notable in the four-star hotel segment. 
A loss of more than 23% in important markets such as Germany and the United States has been key to these results. 

The province of Alicante has performed best, with hotels at 84.2% capacity in southern Alicante, 77.2% in Benidorm , and 76.3% on the Costa Blanca as a whole. 

Castellón also repeats its hotel occupancy figures for 2024, with an average of almost 74% in the first two weeks. The city and province are already preparing for the Magdalena Festival (declared of International Tourist Interest), during which forecasts currently estimate peak occupancy rates of 80%. 

Below, we offer a detailed analysis of hotel occupancy rates in different locations throughout the Valencian Community.

The annual hotel occupancy report prepared by  BigDataHOSBEC  for the following tourist destinations in the Valencian Community is now available:

Benidorm
Costa Blanca (South Alicante)
Province of Valencia (Valencia city)
Province of Castellón

You can view the full report at the following link:

Fortnightly report on hotel occupancy evolution – 1st half of March 2025

BENIDORM

Hotel occupancy in Benidorm during the first half of March 2025 reached a solid 77.2% , matching the previous year's figures, reflecting the destination's ability to sustain high occupancy levels during the low season. Looking ahead to the second half of the month, reservations already registered ("on the books") stand at 76.7%, suggesting continued tourist demand and an optimistic outlook for the end of March.

In terms of nationality, British tourism remains the largest source market, representing 47.7% of the total , followed by domestic tourism, which accounts for 35.9%. Other European markets, such as Belgium (4.2%), the Netherlands (4.1%), and Ireland (3.3%), remain relevant, albeit with a lesser impact. 

By hotel category, 4-star establishments recorded 76.6% occupancy, consolidating their position as the preferred option for a significant portion of visitors. Meanwhile, 3-star hotels experienced a slight decline, with 77.8% occupancy this fortnight compared to 83.7% in 2024. These data demonstrate a growing preference for higher-category accommodations, reflecting a possible trend toward a tourist profile that prioritizes higher quality during their stay in Benidorm.

COSTA BLANCA

Hotel occupancy on the Costa Blanca (excluding Benidorm ) reached 76.3% in the first half of March , reflecting growth compared to previous fortnights and maintaining a stable trend for 2024 (77.6%). Forecasts for the second half of the month point to 71.9% occupancy, suggesting some stabilization in demand.

In terms of tourist origin, the domestic market remains the main driver of tourism in the area, accounting for 44.7% of total overnight stays . The United Kingdom follows with 10.6%, remaining the main international market, although with a smaller presence compared to its share in Benidorm. Belgium, with 8.4%, and Norway, with 7.6%, demonstrate the Costa Blanca's strong appeal to Northern European tourists, where the temperate climate plays a key role in the choice of destination. 

Within this overall trend, hotels in South Alicante have posted positive performance, with occupancy reaching 84.2% in the first half of March, significantly exceeding the area average of the previous year (77.4%). This growth is also reflected in the evolution by category, where 4-star hotels reached 86% occupancy, consolidating their position as the preferred choice for visitors. With a forecast of 78.1% for the second half of the month, the area maintains a positive outlook in the run-up to Easter.

PROVINCE OF VALENCIA
Hotel occupancy in the province of Valencia during the first half of March reached 74.8% . However, the forecast for the second half of March, marked by the Fallas festival, is 66.9%, indicating a slight slowdown in bookings.

Domestic tourism remains the predominant destination, representing 53.6% of travelers, while markets such as Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom also have a significant presence. In terms of category distribution, three- and four-star hotels have recorded the best occupancy rates, reflecting tourists' preference for mid- and high-end accommodations.

In the city of Valencia, occupancy during the first half of March was 73.4% , with a forecast of 64% for the second half. The weekend of March 14-16 was particularly notable, with occupancy reaching 86.9%, demonstrating the strong tourist demand in the days leading up to the Fallas.

Even so, this year, bookings for the entire Fallas period, with a forecast of 70% for the entire period, are showing a slightly different behavior , probably conditioned by the forecast of rain for the last few days and the fact that the cremà falls during the week, which could be affecting the arrival of last-minute visitors.

Regarding the traveler profile, the domestic market remains the predominant one, accounting for 43.4% of all tourists. Among international markets, the United Kingdom stands out with 7.3%, followed by Germany with 7.5% and Italy with 7.1%, consolidating their position as the main source of foreign visitors. Tourists from France (2.8%), the Netherlands (2.4%), and Belgium (2.5%) are also present, maintaining a steady flow of travelers to the city.

PROVINCE OF CASTELLÓN

The province of Castellón recorded a hotel occupancy rate of 73.6% in the first half of March , consolidating the upward trend of recent months. The forecast for the second half of March is 70.7%, very close to the occupancy rate for these first 15 days. The domestic market is the main player, accounting for 83.2% of total visitors, confirming the strong dependence on domestic tourism. Among international markets, France stands out (4.8%), while other countries such as Poland, Italy, Germany, and Portugal have a smaller presence.

As for the forecast, the Magdalena festival , declared of International Tourist Interest, will mark a key point in hotel occupancy in Castellón de la Plana, boosting demand for accommodation in the city.

This year, the celebrations will run from March 22nd to 30th, and for the entire period, hotel occupancy is approaching 60% , with peak weekends. For the first weekend, March 21st to 23rd, reservations have already reached 70%, while for the last weekend of the month, occupancy is expected to rise to 78.3%.

The combination of tradition, fireworks displays, and concerts generates a significant economic impact on the tourism sector. Furthermore, the coincidence with the end of March and the proximity of Holy Week could lead to a last-minute surge in bookings, further strengthening hotel activity in the city.