The airport figures tell a story. A record number of tourists came to Mallorca on holiday last summer but if you scratch the surface slightly there is a different story and it is not one of records. Bar and restaurants taking are down by at least 20 percent. That is a lot of money in an industry which employs 50,000 people in the islands.
Tourists came on holiday but with higher hotel prices their budget was limited. It was a question of full hotels and half-empty bars and restaurants. But even the airport figures tell another story. The number of British tourists coming to the Balearics in July was down by 10 percent and the number of Spanish mainlanders fell by 13 percent. There was a big increase in German tourism which counterbalanced the drop in Spaniards and Britons.
So should the local authorities be concerned? Of course, a big drop in takings in a key industry is a major blow which will have an impact on the local economy. What is amazing is that despite higher hotel prices tourists still came but with a much small budget. They should also be worried about the fall in British and mainland tourism, two key markets.
For Mallorca, at a time when a sizeable number of local residents are complaining about too many tourists, it was a worst case scenario last summer; more tourists but spending less. What the majority of people want is less tourists spending more.
As every knows Mallorca is a no longer a cheap holiday destination. A glass of wine in some bars in the centre of Palma now costs 7 euros and an average meal for two in an average restaurant can cost in excess of 70 euros.
Sometimes the official figures paint a picture which is far from the truth.
18 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Philip HealyGod knows what pronoun the rainbow 🌈 mob have applied to Mallorca.
I have a small bussiness in Mallorca(few shops) since 2016 and 2024 is the worst ! Our prices has never changed since day one . Generaly speaking the bars and the restaurants are with less daily income it's visible, but the situation with the shops is even worst...The people were spending some money for food and drinks, because of the daily routine, but everything else is between 20% to 40% down...I have friends all over the island, some of them with 90 shops ...I did spent a lot of time to dig around and the conclusion is, the situation is nearly the same all across Europe !
Zoltan, fine, you enjoy your tumbet and pa amb oli. The rest of us will eat proper non peasant food. Anyone for some tourist tapas? I hear the patatas Bravas, dry empanadas, rubber squid rings and ham and cheese croquetas, followed by a stale ensemaida are amazing in Mallorca?
TDWhy would you come to me for advice from Bulgarians? You sound a bit ignorant to me. You certainly have no class - trying to brag about how much you spend on food is pathetic!
TDYou wouldn't happen to live in Son Vida, would you? And have "loadsamoney"? (or want people to believe that anyway). (?)
Thanks Zoltan, next time I want advice from a Bulgarian on food I will come to you. My sons work in Paris and London at 2 restaurants with 3 stars between them. I can assure you that apart from a handful of restaurants in Mallorca (the likes of (Dins SantiTauri, Stagier, Es Fum and a few others) its a culinary desert. The mainland is not. Mallorca is bang average for food and overpriced. You can say Stars mean nothing, but thats like saying nor do es any form of recognition (PHD's, degrees etc.) It shows s level of cooking, ingredients and creativeness that simply is missing on the Island.
TDReally? well I've lived here for over 30 years so I know it better than most. And most of my friends are locals. Get out of Santa Catalina and Palma old town and go where the locals go and you might find it's not me that 'talks rot'.
James WalkerI think most people who moved to the resort where they always took their hols will tell you that living in a resort isn't quite the same as visiting.
I lived here over 22 years. Stop ripping people of with poor quality food a drink. Drop the mic, enough said.
Zoltan Teglas talks Rot, you want a decent meal for 2 with decent wine in Palma its €150-200. Yes you can get an inedible menu del dia for poor people for €20 per head, but then you know nothing about food and may as well buy a kebab. A decent meal in Mallorca is as expensive as London and Paris.I was in Gamberro in Zaragoza last week, 12 incredible courses for €62 per head. It's in the Michelin guide and will get a star next year. Incredible food and service. Would have been €140 per head in Palma.