Majorca

Low cost airlines carried 7.1 million passengers in and out of the Balearics until September this year, a 4.6 percent upturn in comparison with the same period last year, the Institute for Tourist Studies (IET) said the regional newspaper. The Balearics increased its “low cost”passenger volume in September this year by 7 percent in comparison with the same month in 2011. Atotal of 1'181'390 passengers landed or took off from Balearic airports last month. The figure accounts for 29.5% of regional air traffic, resulting in the Balearics being the most successful region of Spain in relation to “low cost” flights.

Domino

thats good news
although I am sure some will try to put a totally different spin on it.

they may have paid "low cost" for their flights but they are bringing purses and wallets with spending money with them. Money that is being spent in Spain, which we all know it needs.
after all, they could have gone to Brighton, Bournemouth or Blackpool and would have spent the same or more without the sun.

agoreira

It would be interesting to see the total spend figures as other regions are saying the numbers are much the same, but spending is down. Watched a programme of the Spanish themselves in mainland Spain and the number of visitors was similar, but the stays were much shorter and they were spending less. Lots of foreign visitors are doing the same, shorter visits, less eating out etc. Equally there are other reports that tell us they are spending more, that's why I think you can make figures mean whatever you want them to! With all the problems of the Arab Spring, in Egypt etc, Spain should have picked up a load of tourists that had to cancel there, so the figure should be well up. Next year will be the real test for tourism, a lot less people working, air fares have shot up, a lot less disposable income about. Last year several large hotels in Andalucia closed for the winter (a first) and some closed forever, interesting times ahead!

britishbull

air flight prices are mostly up and hotel costs are up so anyone coming will have less money to spend locally

jackytoo

There was a comment from a man who lives on the costa del Azhar in yesterdays telegraph. He said that tourism was well down this summer. Empty bars etc. and the only thing bomming was supermarkets as the tourists they did have ate in.

The only time you get a real picture of a years tourism is a year later. The media were saying in 2010/2011 that it was a good year at the time but come the next year the figures had turned into a downward trend.

amideislas

There's no doubt that tourism is on the uptick this year. This summer, Mallorca was flooded with tourists, more than I've seen in years. In fact, it's not over yet. If you take the sheer number of rental cars still on the road, and consider that the seaside resorts are still quite busy, it's easy to believe there are still a lot more tourists than usual on the island at this moment.

The general consensus in tourism circles seems to be that a) Egypt and Turkey (and most of the middle east) are not very desirable at the moment, b) flights to Ibiza and Mallorca are a lot cheaper this year, and only 2 hours airtime from most of Europe, and c) major marketing expenditures in Europe (and oddly, the US and Canada, too) by the Balearic government, tour operators, and major hotel chains.

Mallorca in particular, has been spending a lot on upgrading the perception of its brand in the past 2 years, is home to many international celebrities, and has the benefit of a few major motion pictures filmed here. Mallorca also boasts the only Jumeriah 5 star hotel in Europe...

EDIT: One other point: The value of the Swiss franc makes anywhere in Eurozone a lot cheaper to Swiss tourists. The Balearics are the closest thing perceived as "island paradise" in Europe - and now it's cheap for the Swiss. Seems to be playing out that way; I've heard more "SwitzerDeutsch" spoken this year than ever before...

Majorca

I agree, Mallorca has been spending a lot on upgrading the perception of its brand.

bigglesworth

Visitor volumes seem to be high in lots of places. Where we are now in France has been positively heaving. Galicia, where we were until two years ago, was also very busy I hear from friends.
When I am back in the UK - London, and Coventry principally- the restaurants and hotels are packed. The strangest recession I ever saw!

Domino

our village in the middle of the olives of Andalucia has just had a 5 day feria, the village has been almost dead - until the evenings and weekend. On Saturday the BH and I went out to find half the village out in the street bars, burger bars etc, all dressed up in formal Spanish dresses etc, seemed like their salaries for the next 3-4months of hard work in the olive harvest has already been spent.

Dick Dasterdly

You wouldn't by any chance be a distant relative of Steviedeluxe ?

Don't suppose the attrocious Summer in much of N.Europe would have anything to do with the claimed increase in figures ?