The aim of TUI Fly, easyJet, Jet2 and the Irish airline Ryanair is to ensure air connectivity with a safe tourist destination that is in growing demand in the British market.
The outlook for next year, following the airlines’ flight schedules, is good for tour operators.
The message that will be circulating at this year’s World Travel Market is that if there is tourism next year, despite all the current uncertainties, the British will go on holiday to the Balearics.
Air connectivity is key for a destination and the fact that the number of flights is increasing is even more so.
The Council of Mallorca’s tourism chief, Andreu Serra, said: “It is very positive for the Balearics that the airlines have made a commitment to Mallorca and to consolidate this important market on the island, which is second only to Germany.”
Serra affirms that the aim of the institutions “is to ensure British tourism due to the great competition there will be next summer throughout the Mediterranean and from countries outside the Eurozone”.
Tour operators TUI UK, easyJet Holidays and Jet2 Holidays are hoping that by May there will be no geopolitical problems and that the Russian-Ukrainian war will be over.
British travel association ABTA points out that the airlines’ forecasts are very positive, but also points out that the current economic situation in the UK is very complex and trusts that the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak can change the economic strategy.
The President of the Balearic Government, Francina Armengol, and the President of the Council of Mallorca, Catalina Cladera, have flown to London with an extensive agenda of meetings with the British tourism sector and the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Reyes Maroto.
The main aim is to drive home to the British market that Mallorca and the Balearics is a safe destination.
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Ulla JacksonI sense it's more of an issue with different political groups, and of course, the MDB tends to sensationalise anything, even if it's some wacky proposal by some uninformed splinter group with zero chance of ever seeing the light of day. There is a certain contingent of those who want to kill tourism and any kind of development. These are the ones who are unable to accept any kind of change. Status quo or reverting to the past is comfortable for them. Then on the other side of the coin, there's those who want unfettered growth and development at any cost, feeding their own interests. These are also in the minority. Somewhere in the middle, there's others who simply say, ok, what we don't need is to throw the baby out with the bathwater, but what we do need is managed growth and better management of our high demand tourism model, without destroying the fundamentals of what attracts tourists. Some will argue that cheap hotels and cheap beer are what attracts tourists, so destroying that will bankrupt Mallorca. But that's just what >they< want on a holiday, yet they're actually a rather small minority, even if they don't realise it. They're often loud though. Then there's others who feel that Mallorca has much more to offer than cheap hotels and beer. These are actually in the majority, although their strategy is more technocratic and boring, and a bit quieter, so often receives more criticism than applause. In the end, there's simply the reality that demand is always going to be there (barring global events like pandemics or wars) so better management isn't really going to have a negative impact, and more likely will only make it even more desirable. So, for now, we just have to sit and watch it play out. But the dissonant moaning is often entertaining, if nothing else.
Ulla JacksonYou got it. More flights is good but we’re over crowded which is bad. No one walks to the islands. Very Few arrive by boat in the greater scheme of things. So most of the unwanted must arrive by air. Ahh …That must be why there’s a very large very busy airport on a small island. Well I never. Left right what ever direction. They’re both the same, if you turn around and face the other way. Vested interest logic.
Do this government really what they want? One is saying less tourists, one is happy for more tourists. Are they not talking to each other to get a coherent strategy? It seems not.
I thought Brits were refusing to come to Mallorca because it's too expensive, they have to suffer passport control, tourist tax, etc. (?)
Ryanair’s traditional airlines disrupter in chief, Michael O’Leary was on U.K. radio this morning. He was very bullish about his businesses prospects this coming winter and next year. His usual criticism of national legacy carriers aside. Asked about the environmental impact of his company’s activities in response, He was very scathing of European air traffic control stating the inefficiency of the current system increases fuel burn by 20%. And his new fleet are 16% more fuel efficient/passenger than flag carriers, Ryanair newer but larger aircraft. The 19% increase in Brit origin aircraft. That gives the islands authorities some serious source of concern re their objective to reduce overcrowding. Budget carriers, budget tourism zombie stag weekend market offer. There’s some conflicts to be ironed out there I think.