09/04/2013 00:00
TW
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THE President of the Balearic Association of Travel Agents (Aviba), Mateu Pou, said yesterday that they are expecting an increase in sales of five percent in comparison with last Easter.

He emphasised the speed with which some holiday packages had sold out, with international destinations such as Athens and Moscow.
Many international destinations can be reached by direct flights from Palma for the first time this year or, in the case of Moscow, via Barcelona, he added.

Pou said that, at the moment, “it is complicated” to make a reservation for some destinations, such as Rome of Istanbul, direct from Palma, as these packages are practically sold out.

At the same time he said that there had been a lot of demand for holidays to the Spanish mainland, especially to Andalucia, Asturias, and Galicia.

EXTRA FLIGHTS
The majority of international reservations have been made easier by the fact that airlines put on extra flights specifically for Easter week, and the travel agents incorporate these into their holiday package deals, making some “good offers”, said Pou.

In addition to this he explained that the airlines took advantage of tourist flights coming from Palma to bring home Balearic residents who have been on holiday in that destination.

This allows them to reduce their costs and reduce their prices.
He remarked that one of the formulas which “is more successful every year” is the sale of hotel places on Majorca, especially in places such as Cala Rajada and Alcudia.

Around half the hotels on Majorca will open at Easter, according to the President of the Federation of Majorcan Hoteliers, Pere Cañellas.
He added that occupancy levels were expected to be on a par with other years, even though Easter is early this year.
However, the President of Aviba said that many more Balearic citizens have decided to holiday outside the islands, and the country, than those who will holiday on the Balearics.

The main finternational destinations chosen this Easter week and which can be reached by direct flights from Palma are: Athens, Rome, Tunisia, Morocco, Croatia, Istanbul, Malta, Venice, London and Lisbon.

To travel to these destinations, with a four night stay in a hotel, can cost between 500 and 600 euros a “really low” price.
Finally, he said that it is not necessary to have much money to travel, and added that Balearics citizens want to explore the world outside of Spain, to rest and break with their routines. “When the economy is going well, and things are good on the islands, people have more confidence and are more likely to go on holiday”, he said.