Acave calls for National Tourism Pact and addresses agency succession

The Association of Specialized Travel Agencies (Acave) has called for a National Tourism Pact to establish a strategic roadmap for the next five years and increase the institutional visibility of travel agencies. During the XXVI Acave Forum held in Barcelona, industry professionals discussed several critical challenges facing the sector.

Key issues identified include the impact of artificial intelligence on business models, the reputation of tourism, and the urgent need for generational succession. A survey presented at the forum revealed that approximately 40% of travel agencies are already considering succession or sale plans. Specifically, 18% have a defined plan for business continuity, while another 22% have begun the thinking process.

Miquel Sàmper, the Minister of Business and Work for the Generalitat, emphasized the importance of the sector, noting that tourism represents 12% of Catalonia's GDP. Experts at the forum highlighted that without proactive planning regarding family transfers or integration into larger groups, many agencies risk traumatic closures due to a lack of young professionals entering the field.