The latest monthly report on the Hotel Movement in Andalusia, prepared by the Ministry of Tourism, projects a modest reduction of 3.5% in overnight stays and 3.8% in hotel occupancy for the province of Córdoba during May. This forecast contrasts with the general optimism of the tourism sector, which sees excellent prospects for the May Festivities in the capital.

The document, dated February and providing a three-month outlook, estimates that the province of Córdoba, including the capital and its 76 municipalities, will register a total of 205,000 overnight stays in May. The average occupancy expected for all 77 municipalities is around 55% of available beds.

It is crucial to consider that these projections were made in February, a period when the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Andalusia was completely interrupted, affecting the connection with Córdoba. Although the connection with Málaga was still ongoing, full operation was expected in the following weeks, a circumstance that could positively influence actual data. Furthermore, in February, Andalusia, and especially Cádiz and Córdoba, were affected by a series of storms that may have dampened tourism expectations.

It should be noted that the report focuses on the provincial scope, which includes municipalities with less tourist activity compared to the capital, the epicenter of the May Festivities. This aggregation may dilute the capital's figures. A precedent for forecast deviation was observed in March, when estimates for Holy Week predicted a 20% to 30% drop in occupancy. However, the capital exceeded expectations, achieving a 6% increase in hotel occupancy and a 17% growth in tourist apartments compared to the previous year.