COVID-19 leaves Spain's interior a tourist desert

Foreign tourists are nearly non-existent in Seville due to the coronavirus pandemic

Published: July 13, 2020 11:32 Complied by Christian Borbon, Digital Content Editor and with inputs from AFP

1 of 15

The Mezquita, an eighth-century mosque later turned into a cathedral, is the most visited site in the Andalusian town in southern Spain. Image Credit: AFP

2 of 15

But since it reopened at the end of May, only 16,000 people have set foot in the UNESCO World Heritage site considered one of the most accomplished works of Moorish architecture - the number of visitors it would normally receive in a week. Image Credit: AFP

3 of 15

A lone tourist walks around The Mezquita in Cordova, one of Spain's interior cities that is being disproportionately hit by the drop in tourism. Image Credit: AFP

4 of 15

"It will take months to make that up," said church spokesman Jose Juan Jimenez Gueto, although money set aside in previous years means staff have been kept busy with restoration projects. Image Credit: AFP

5 of 15

Nearby restaurants, hotels and shops are not so lucky, and many are closed. Image Credit: AFP

6 of 15

In Spain, the world's number two tourist destination behind France, spending by foreign tourists plunged by 62 percent in the first five months of the year compared with the same period in 2019. Image Credit: AFP

7 of 15

In Andalusia, hotel occupancy is at an average of just 25 percent, a good 10 percentage points lower than in establishments along the coast, said Francisco de la Torre, head of the region's hotel association. Image Credit: AFP

8 of 15

Tourists arrive to a visit The Mezquita in Cordoba after restrictions were lifted following a national lockdown put in place to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Image Credit: AFP

9 of 15

US travel blogger Alyssa Ramos poses for a photo at the "Patio de los Naranjos" at The Mezquita in Cordoba. Image Credit: AFP

10 of 15

Tourists walk in the "Patio de los Naranjos" at The Mezquita in Cordoba. Image Credit: AFP

11 of 15

A tourist visits the "Patio de los Naranjos" at The Mezquita in Cordoba. Image Credit: AFP

12 of 15

Tourists shop for souvenirs in Cordoba. In Spain, the world's number two tourist destination behind France, spending by foreign tourists has plunged by 62 percent in the first five months of the year compared with the same period in 2019. Image Credit: AFP

13 of 15

A tourist guide works at The Mezquita in Cordoba. Image Credit: AFP

14 of 15

A shop owner looks down an empty street in Cordoba after restrictions were lifted following a national lockdown put in place to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Image Credit: AFP

15 of 15

Foreign tourists are nearly non-existent and even Spanish tourists few and far between. Image Credit: AFP

Photos News

COVID-19 leaves Spain's interior a tourist desert

More From Photos

Photos: Tensions rise as US pro-Palestinian student protests spread

Thousands of flights in Europe scrapped as French air traffic controllers strike

We're full! Europe's fight against overtourism

Vaccines saved at least 154 million lives in 50 years: WHO

GULFNEWS SECTIONS

Trending

COVID-19 leaves Spain's interior a tourist desert

More From Photos

Photos: Tensions rise as US pro-Palestinian student protests spread

Thousands of flights in Europe scrapped as French air traffic controllers strike

We're full! Europe's fight against overtourism

Vaccines saved at least 154 million lives in 50 years: WHO

GULFNEWS SECTIONS