Playa de Palma on Sunday.

Playa de Palma on Sunday.

Majorca Daily Bulletin reporterPalma04/10/2016 00:00
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The records in terms of tourist numbers keep being made. Although official figures for September's tourist arrivals have yet to be released, hotelier associations in the main resort areas all point to increased occupancy and profitability. Meanwhile, October has started with a bang. Courtesy of the German tourist market in particular - it was the national holiday for "Einheit", the reunification of east and west, on Monday - principal resorts on the island were registering high occupancy levels at the weekend. It is said that there was 100% in some hotels in the likes of Playa de Palma, Playa de Muro and Cala Ratjada.

From Friday last week up to Sunday, Palma's airport dealt with over 400,000 passengers, with over 150,000 of them having passed through the airport on Saturday. It is anticipated that from Monday this week up to Sunday there will be some 600,000 passengers.

Last week it was reported that when final figures are released, September occupancy is expected to have been around 90%, an increase of four per cent, although there are bound to have been differences in individual resorts. The estimate for overall occupancy this month was put at 61%. The apparently high levels just at the moment might mean that this figure is revised upwards. The island, it is suggested, is facing its best October in fifteen years.

From the non-hotel complementary sector, there are also signs that business in October will be up. The Majorca Restaurants Association is saying that bars/restaurants which in the past have typically closed by now or would do so at some point in October will be staying open until the end of the month. Some may even decide to continue into November. Much will depend on hotel occupancy and the general level of tourist numbers - which will vary from resort to resort - and also on the weather. The better that is, the more the terraces are in demand.

The association is saying that there has been a general increase in turnover of 10% this season, the result in particular of improved business in the lower months, such as May.