Berlin has already advised German citizens not to travel to Catalonia, Navarre and Aragon and the progressive growth in positive cases in the Balearic Islands in the last couple of weeks is generating alarm in issuing markets.
Since the end of July the number of positive cases in Spain has increased from 9.22% to 42.80%, with a 567.35% increase in Aragon in the last 14 days, a 152.7% increase in Catalonia and 140.9% in Navarre.
Concern
"Hotel reservations are paralysed in all European foreign source markets, including Germany,” said Gabriel Llobera, President of the Association of Hotel Chains, or ACH. “A message of tranquility must be transmitted to the markets, because the Balearic Islands are carrying out more PCR tests than ever and this should give peace of mind to the issuing tourist markets, because the controls carried out by the Government are helping to avoid more infections,” he added.
Llobera is adamant that the Balearic Islands are a safe tourist destination for workers, residents and tourists and is demanding that the Government drive home that message in foreign markets.
He also commented on the letter that the President of the Government, Francina Armengol, addressed to British citizens on July 31 through the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
“This has had a great transcendence in the British tourist market and I believe that she should do exactly the same in the German publications, Mallorca Magazin and Mallorca Zeitung,” he said. “We must give a calm, positive message at this time and make sure that Germany is informed about what we are doing here in the Balearic Islands because that's our main source market,” said Llobera.
The Association acknowledges that many businesses are nervous about the tourist situation because 8 countries have already imposed quarantine on travellers arriving from Spain.
Switzerland has exempted the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands from its self-isolation rules, but Belgium included the Islands in its ruling and there are fears that more will follow.
"It is vital that the messages that come out of the Balearic Islands in terms of health security are positive," says Llobera.
UK Bookings
Bookings from the main British Tour Operators, such as TUI UK and Jet2Holidays, slumped by 76% last week compared to the week before, according to analysis by the Tourism Technology provider DataHotel Dingus.
The British Government’s compulsory quarantine for travellers arriving in the UK from Spain is being blamed for the 50% drop in Hotel reservations in the Balearic Islands.
2 comments
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Perhaps it would be a good idea if the powers that be started taking positive action. So addressing over crowding and mask wearing at the airport, plus testing passengers arriving from those high risk areas on the mainland. This would boost the confidence of tourists. Actions rather than words is needed now.
And again! How many times? 10 flights a day from Barcelona without any checks or controls. Also Madrid and many other mainland cities What on earth do the authorities think other countries will do as cases soar. I won’t be surprised if Germany pulls the plug too. Don’t blame them or the UK for that matter. Doing NOTHING is the problem. All that lockdown sacrifice we made here (much stricter than most of the EU) and for what? Mallorca, and Spain are throwing their lifebelt away.