The Acotur tourist businesses association has conducted a survey of businesses in Calvia, Alcudia and Llucmajor (Arenal). One hundred businesses, such as bars, restaurants and shops, have taken part and they say that tourist spending is down by between 20 and 30 per cent compared with last year.
The businesses suggest that each year tourists seem to have less spending power. As far as all-inclusives are concerned, the businesses say that the number has not decreased this year and is on a par with 2016.
Acotur says that all-inclusives cause major problems for businesses. An urgent solution to all-inclusives is needed. There does at least need to be a limit on the amount of alcohol that these hotels can serve. The free nature of drink in all-inclusives, the association adds, is the source of bad behaviour in Calvia, Alcudia and Arenal.
The Acotur finding of lower spending by tourists contradicts the statistics of the Egatur surveys of spending. These suggest higher levels of spending. But just one problem with Egatur is the weight given to the cost of the actual holiday. This has been going up and will therefore be reflected in the statistics and may well over-compensate for a resultant actual fall in spending in resorts.
A further point that can be made concerns different areas of resort municipalities. In Alcudia, for example, the tourism centre around Bellevue is one thing. It is where Acotur has tended to talk to businesses. The port and the old town are others.
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The weak pound will deter more tourists next year plus its expensive in bars and restaurants pretty much double the cost of Benidorm, ok the market with couples who have disposable income will still visit but 30% reduction in tourism will put jobs at risk.
The Tourists that cause the most problems in Calvia and other places are NOT the type to visit All inclusive hotels they are to expensive for 18 to 25 yr olds so STOP blaming the All Inclusive Guests .
An island of all inclusive hotels and low spending singletons. Is this really the type of tourist Mallorca wants/deserves. Please tell me the politians have a plan. A friend of mine told me that when he thought of Mallorca he thought of kiss me quick hats and straw donkeys. I tried to put forward my view of the island which is quite the opposite. However it seems the island is destined to become the Blackpool of the Balearics.
Add to this the holiday rental legistration and we are in for rough times ahead !
Please take into account the fact that the government takes the tourist tax off the visitor once he checks into the hotel. So this reduces the nett spend of the visitor. These figures should add in that tax to give a more meaningful total spend. Also the British have less Euro to the pound as already pointed out. I have also noticed that hotels have increased prices and this itself takes a toll on the ability to spend.This is interesting coming on the back of the efforts to reduce visitors to the island. It looks like the government may get their wish with less visitors and now finding they are spending less. What happens next ?. If inflation rises in the UK and the pound loses value the government in Majorca may find that it gets its wish sooner than it expected.
Thirty percent is about the value that the pound has lost against the euro in the last year or so and people are naturally buying fewer euros and cutting back on what they spend and it's likely to get even worse so Majorca is getting more tourists who are spending less,it's not a good situation for anyone.
Eventually the Authorities will take action to reduce "ALL INCLUSIVE " Hotel package deals. Everything the Tourist needs and has paid for, is in their package. Many do not bring spending money, and onlyuse credit cards if necessary. With the British Pound exchange down to almost 1 £ to 1€ , their spending power is greatly reduced from these shock rates.