Gibraltar is well-placed to capitalise on word-of-mouth recommendations from first-time visitors and increased publicity over the course of the Covid pandemic, its tourism minister believes.
Vijay Daryanani, minister for business, tourism and the port (pictured), said visitors who had chosen Gibraltar for the first time due to its presence on the UK government’s green list had been surprised by what it had to offer.
Speaking at World Travel Market, he said: “People have realised there is so much to do in Gibraltar. It has always been a popular short-break destination but visitors spent two weeks with us and still said they wanted to come back.”
He added: “Some visitors weren’t sure if there would be enough for families and have been pleasantly surprised. We have had a full summer and that has included people from many walks of life [who may not previously have considered Gibraltar].”
Daryanani admitted to frustration that there was not more hotel capacity to accommodate the growth he would like but said investment in four and five-star properties demonstrated that high-end demand was also strong.
He said: “Much has been made of the British staycation this year, but we believe that Gibraltar is the British staycation in the Med. We are very proud of our Britishness and visitors have responded very well to that familiarity.
“It is important we keep on talking about Gibraltar as a destination and ensuring we remain in the minds of travellers and the travel trade.”