Balearics raise 10pc of nautical sector's revenue in Spain

PALMA
LEISURE sailing in the Balearic Islands accounts for more than ten per cent of the sector's revenue for the whole of Spain, according to a recent report.

Between January and July, 5'510 in 2005 individual boats and yachts passed through the Islands, representing 0.13 per cent of the Spanish Gross Domestic Product (with 1'057 million euros), a report showed yesterday.

The report, referring to data collected throughout 2005, was compiled by the National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN), and indicates that as well as the 1'057 million euros directly generated by leisure sailing in the Balearics, a further 4'479 million euros was generated indirectly as a result of the ever-growing industry.

In addition, the report found that the sector has directly created 15'000 jobs, and a further 113'737 jobs as an indirect consequence.
In relation to other economic sectors and, above all, the nautical sectors, leisure sailing accounts for almost four per cent of the maritime sector and 3.3 per cent of jobs throughout Spain.

It also occupies 63rd place out of 74 Spanish productive sectors in terms of profit value, and 65th concerning employment.
The production of motor boats of more than 7.5 metres in length has had a significant 9.4 per cent increase, while yachts have also grown in popularity, with a 7.9 per cent rise in production.

The Balearic Islands' contribution to the sector is equal to that of Madrid, and second only to Barcelona.
In the winter, the islands have a thriving trade in boat storage and maintenance.
The popularity of the Balearics with yachties has led to demands for more berths to be built throughout the islands, the sector claiming that a lot of business is lost during the summer as yachts cannot find anywhere to moor and so choose other parts of the Mediterranean.

Environmentalists, however, are opposed to any increases in moorings because of the damage they cause to the sea bed.
They are fighting not only against the creation of new marinas but the expansion of existing ones.
They are also opposed to plans to regenerate beaches by dredging sand from the seabed.