The tourist apartment sector in Jerez de la Frontera concluded May 2026 with a strong surge in demand. The sector welcomed 3,918 travelers and recorded 8,434 overnight stays, figures significantly exceeding the 1,853 visitors and 5,003 nights from the same month the previous year. This growth, surpassing 100% in tourist arrivals and 68% in booked nights, contrasts with a decline in associated employment, which fell from 88 to 53 workers, a decrease of nearly 40%.
Although the number of apartments remained stable at 343 units compared to 341 a year earlier, the increased available capacity, reaching 1,043 beds (a 10% rise), fueled the increase in travelers. The average occupancy rate for beds rose from 17.04% to 26.08% over the year. The upturn was particularly pronounced during weekends, when occupancy climbed from 30.39% to 43.36%. Average occupancy per unit also improved, moving from 29.05% to 46.02%, reaching 65.53% on weekends.
The rise in visitors did not translate into longer stays, as the average visit duration decreased from 2.7 to 2.2 days. The domestic market was the primary driver of the increase, with a 114.7% rise in travelers (from 1,451 to 3,116) and a 38% growth in overnight stays (from 3,642 to 5,055), albeit with shorter stays (1.6 days on average). Conversely, international visitors nearly doubled (from 402 to 801), their overnight stays increased by 148.3% to 3,379 nights, and they stayed longer in the city, averaging 4.2 days.
Within international tourism, the German market saw an increase of over 175% in travelers (from 45 to 124) and a 45% rise in overnight stays (from 136 to 197). The Dutch market experienced the largest percentage growth, with a 94% increase in travelers (to 136) and a 222% rise in overnight stays (to 600), although their average stay decreased to 1.7 days. French tourism showed mixed performance, while tourists from other countries stood out for their long stays (averaging 7.4 days), tripling in number and seeing overnight stays soar by 327%.
The data point that breaks the sector's positive trend is employment. The workforce employed by tourist apartments decreased by 39.8%, falling from 88 people in May 2025 to 53 in May 2026. The reasons for this reduction are not detailed but could include changes in management, outsourcing of services, or new work organization methods. In summary, the sector in Jerez is experiencing growth in activity and occupancy, particularly driven by international tourism, but with an unanswered question about its impact on employment.
