Spain Urges Tourists to Act Fast Amid Rising Oil Prices and Travel Costs

Spain is urging tourists to purchase airline tickets quickly to dodge escalating fares ignited by surging oil prices following the conflict in Iran. This warning, issued by the country's Industry and Tourism Minister, Jordi Hereu, comes as Spain celebrates a record 97 million tourists last year, anticipating maintaining a comparable growth this year.

In a recent interview with Expansion, Hereu cautioned that the higher fuel costs threaten to elevate airfares significantly. He explained that while airlines currently use previously purchased kerosene, fluctuations are inevitable and could impact ticket demand.

Transport & Environment campaign group noted oil prices have already inflated long-haul flight costs from Europe by over $100. Despite Spain's ample kerosene reserves and production capacity, Hereu stressed potential issues if tourist-origin countries encounter difficulties, emphasizing broader regional implications.

(With inputs from agencies.)