AP-7 and staff absenteeism top Girona tourism sector worries

The poor condition of the AP-7 motorway and high levels of sick leave among staff were the main complaints raised by Girona's hospitality industry this week. Both issues were at the centre of the sector's annual World Tourism Day gathering.

The event took place on Monday at the Castell de Biart, in Masarac i Vilarnadal in the Alt Empordà. It is organised by the Federació d'Hostaleria i Turisme de les Comarques de Girona, the association representing hotels, restaurants and other tourism businesses across the Girona counties. This was its 21st edition.

The federation's president, Antoni Escudero, hosts the event every year. It regularly brings together dozens of figures from the tourism sector in Girona and across Catalonia. Sitting in the front row were deputies, mayors, representatives of the Catalan government, the president of the Diputació de Girona (the provincial council) and the president of the Catalan Parliament.

Calls to bring back AP-7 tolls

Escudero asked for tolls to be reintroduced on the AP-7, the main motorway linking the Costa Brava with the French border and Barcelona. He described the road as "impassable, dangerous, dirty" and said it was damaging tourism.

The federation had already made the same demand a few weeks ago. According to Escudero, the AP-7 "is not only poorly maintained, it is falling apart". The federation opposes a vignette system because, in its view, there is no guarantee that all foreign drivers entering Catalonia would pay it.

Escudero also proposed a dedicated lane for lorries to prevent traffic jams on the motorway. In addition, he stressed the need to extend the C-32 between Blanes and Lloret.

"Every day is an adventure"

Absenteeism was the other key issue. Escudero called for tighter regulation of temporary sick leave. "We live in total uncertainty. Every day is an adventure because we don't know how many workers we will have," he said. He asked the authorities to improve coordination between the health department and the mutual insurance companies that manage workplace sick leave, and to penalise fraudulent claims.

He put the cost of absenteeism for employers at 59,000 million euros in Spain, 11,557 million in Catalonia and 1,100 million in the Girona counties. He compared the Girona figure with the combined budgets of the province's town councils, which total 1,500 million euros. "We cannot keep up this pace," he said.

Warning ahead of elections

Before turning to these issues, Escudero reminded the politicians that municipal and Spanish general elections are coming. "We don't want promises that are not kept, we want promises that can be kept, I'm warning you," he said.

He also had a message for the Catalan tourism minister, Sàmper, who promised last year not to raise the tourist tax without the sector's agreement. Sàmper was on an official trip to India this year. The director general of Tourism, Cristina Lagé, spoke in his place. She said overnight stays have risen by 6% and tourist spending by 10%.

Miquel Noguer, president of the Diputació and of the Girona tourist board, said the province has welcomed 6.4 million visitors this year, with overnight stays up 3.5%.

Parliament president Josep Rull said tourism is "strategic" for the Catalan economy and appealed to "self-esteem and confidence". He noted that the federation will turn 50 next year, while the Parliament will mark 1,000 years in 2027.

The mayor of Masarac i Vilarnadal, Lluís Pujol, also used the day to announce that he will not stand for re-election after 23 years in office.

Our Take

For Empuriabrava, the AP-7 is more than a regional talking point. Most visitors driving from France and much of the local supply chain rely on it. The federation's criticism suggests that the end of tolls has not solved congestion and wear on the road, and has instead raised new questions about who pays for maintenance.

The call for a separate lorry lane fits a wider debate about freight on Alt Empordà roads, including plans such as the Vilamalla rail freight terminal. The tourist tax warning also reflects growing friction between the sector and the Catalan government, seen recently in the dispute over tourist flat rules.

With elections approaching, it is worth watching whether any party commits to a clear position on AP-7 funding. It is also worth watching whether the tourist tax is raised without the sector's backing.