The UAB Index of Tourism Activity has practically become the main tool of analysis of the tourism situation in Catalonia. By now, the index has experienced eighth editions (in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007,2008 and 2009) with constant improvement in its content.

The new UAB Index of Tourism Activity 2009 which is now in its 8th edition. The index has become an important subject for debate on the future of the tourism industry among all its participants, as its increasing impact and its nature prove.

Once more, the commitment to improvement of the product will be accurately reflected in the 2009 edition; this evident in two items.

• More attention paid to the analysis of the situation all over Spain. For example, reflecting a new wave of forecasts all over the country.

• Analysis of different aspects of the tourism sector with an academic focus.

Taking this into account, the study analyzes the process of job creation quantitatively in both the Spanish and regional tourism sectors, and also analyses seasonality. We feel then that the Index has culminated its transformation, which started in 2005, by moving from a collective assessment of tourism in Catalonia to one which covers all Spain, and also includes academic monographs.

This apart, the new Catalonia Hotel Activity Report assesses the situation of the Catalan hotel sector by means of quantitative economic indicators in the four Catalan provinces. The situation is analysed differently in each province through a group of tourist resorts and a forecast for hospitality demand for 2009 is made.