This period of maximum activity is due to the relaunch of inland tourism and the consolidation of Lleida as an international destination, achieving a record 1.32 million visitors in 2024. According to operators of campsites and rural houses, activity is approaching the maximum capacity the region can handle.
Last year, the Lleida hospitality sector registered the highest annual average hiring rate in its history, with 10,380 average monthly workers, reaching a peak of 11,150 salaried employees in March, coinciding with the end of the snow season. This data was released by the Federació d’Hostaleria de Lleida.
A soft and sustained decline in self-employed workers in the sector, which reflects a progressive process of business concentration within the sector.
This increase in salaried employment, which has grown from an average of just 8,000 to nearly 10,400 contracted workers in a decade, coexists with a reduction in the number of businesses. Data from the Social Security corroborates the federation's thesis.
The number of restoration companies in Lleida fell from 1,612 in December 2019 to 1,462 (-9.3%), and accommodation businesses dropped from 336 to 290 (-13.7%), highlighting the concentration and the challenge of reducing seasonality.
