63% of the tourists who land at the airport of Reus stay in the Costa Dorada

Reus. Costa Dorada. Almost 2 out of 3 tourists arriving in the Tarragona region through the low cost airlines operating out of Reus Airport have the Costa Dorada as their final destination. According to data from the Tourism Council, only 17% of the volume of passengers use our region as a bridge to reach other destinations, while the remaining 20% is for cityzens of the territory returning from trips. To these figures must be added the dramatic rise of Ryanair in the first 8 months of 2009. Between January and August, this low-cost airline carried a total of 841,835 passengers, more than 111% compared to the same period in 2008. This means that more than half a million people have used the Reus airport to spend a night at the Costa Dorada during the first third of the current financial year. According to the president of the Tourism Council of Tarragona, Joan Aregio, "despite the current economic situation, this confirms the growing trend in the field of low cost airlines. The type of flights and services offered, especially prices, will make traditional companies revise their rates and services to remain competitive. " However, according to Aregio, "Our airport has to bet on the balance and develop charter flights and low cost flights." The president of the Tourism Council was speaking after attending, along with other representatives of the territory,the Third World Congress of low-cost airlines held last September 30 in Barcelona, in which the Board has also participated as a sponsor. The Congress, held at the International Convention Center of Barcelona was attended by executives from leading low cost airlines in the world (Ryanair, easyGroup, AirAsia, Southwest Airlines, Virgin, SkyExpress, etc..) as well as by major aircraft construction companies (Airbus and Boeing). Precisely builders quantified in 29,000 the number of new aircrafts (mostly Boeing 737 model size) to be manufactured until 2028 to meet the needs of airlines, particularly low cost ones.   In this sense, low-cost operators stress that in the coming years a trend of corporate mergers will be seen that will significantly reduce the number of firms in the market as well as a great growth in areas that are uncovered by bankruptcies and disappearing airlines. According to Joan Aregio, "from the Tourism Council we will continue our lines of work to promote and disseminate the tourist attractions of the Costa Dorada and ensure access for our airport to new growth possibilities."

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