The Barcelona-based economic entity has strongly defended the tourism sector, considering it an essential pillar for the Catalan economy and its international projection. According to the report by the Observatory of Urban Economy, a reduction in tourism activity would directly negatively impact the offer of air connections, degrading Barcelona's "connectivity" with other global capitals and adversely affecting the attraction of congresses, international events, investments in research and innovation, and the fluidity of business exports.
The report emphasizes that tourism has been a decisive driver for consolidating routes and increasing frequencies at Barcelona-El Prat airport. Over the past two decades, the number of long-haul destinations has grown from 17 to 59, with passenger volume increasing from 1 to 8 million. The Chamber's president, Josep Santacreu, insisted that viewing a decrease in tourism as beneficial for other sectors is a mistake, as the overall impact would be detrimental.
Joan Ramon Rovira, head of studies at the Chamber, revealed a significant figure: Barcelona airport ranks fifth in Europe for origin-destination traffic, surpassed only by London, Paris, Istanbul, and Milan. This position, according to Rovira, demonstrates a level of connectivity superior to what would be expected for an airport without its own flag carrier.
Aeronautical consultant Jaume Adrover recalled that El Prat currently operates above its theoretical capacity of 55 million passengers annually, having exceeded 57 million in 2025. Adrover pointed out that over 5 million travelers benefit from long-haul connections and stressed that tourism is key to competitiveness and aspiring to global relevance. The "grand strategy" involves "going out to seek more long-haul routes," including connections with Asia and strengthening those to North America and South America.
Regarding airport management, Josep Santacreu considered the Generalitat's presence in the airport's governance "desirable," implicitly referencing the functioning of Rodalies (commuter rail) to highlight that "distant" management is not optimal.
