The international profile of the travellers who visit the Balearic Islands, the high average expenses and the stay in relation to the rest of the autonomous communities of Spain, as well as it excellent connection with the rest of the peninsula and Europe, have made these islands an authentic treasure for the Spanish GDP.
The innovative character turns the Balearic Islands and, more specifically Palma de Majorca, into one of the points of reference for new tourist trends. There are situated some of the main hotel and commercial aviation companies such as Barceló, Melià, Iberostar, Globalia…Tour operators such as Tui are also very relevant at these islands and work together with tourist agencies in the same islands in order to strengthen their position in Spain.
As a destination in itself, the Balearic Islands are the second community -after Catalonia- with more visitors during the years (more than 11 millions of people), but if we bear in mind that it is a smaller territory, figures get a more important meaning. Majorca, Ibiza and, to a lesser extent, Minorca, are the driving force of the Spain tourism.
British and German tourists are still the main support of their markets, although the increase of Italian, French and Swiss visitors to the islands is noticeable. Russians are a prospect for tourism companies in the Balearic Islands, since they represent travellers with a higher purchasing power: love luxury, excesses and consume complimentary services although they book an All Inclusive hotel.
Iberostar Royal Cupido en Playa de Palma
With 347.897 accommodation rooms, the Balearic islands have been of the pioneering communities targeted at different traveller profiles. For example, you can visit Ibiza and stay at Ushuaïa hotel, which has become a trip motivation in the island. In Majorca, hotels for children in Alcudia stand out, as well as Adults Only spa hotels in Playa de Palma, golf hotels in Llucmajor, thanks to its nearness to Palma, the capital of the island.
The Palma example
Palma de Majorca, precisely, is one of the Spanish cities considered as a mature tourism destination which is really working to break this label and offer a completely new travel concept. Deseasonalizing, extending the summer, activating the island attractions in winter, keeping the restaurants, bars and discos opened… The challenge is important and, by now, it has had success in some aspects: a few weeks ago, some of the main groups in the Balearic Islands, as far as leisure and bars are concerned, have announced to keep closed their most representative premises during winter, which are traditional meeting points in the nights of the Palma’s Paseo Marítimo (Tito’s, Pacha…).
Nevertheless, we can note a positive tendency: the small businessmen and owners of restaurants, pubs and bars situated in the old quarter and Santa Catalina neighbourhood are strongly investing in the deseasonalization. Live music, art galleries, gourmet restaurants, second-hand shops and vintage cafes, DJ sessions, theatre and avant-garde cultural meetings are focusing the Palma attraction to a different point, along with Barcelona and Madrid, but to a lesser extent, with the extra benefit of being just some kilometres away from some of the most paradisiacal places in the world.
The city deseasonalization is also noticeable in the opening of hotels in the centre of Palma, the revitalisation of the called boutique hotels in areas such as Cort, La Calatrava and La Lonja. Open during the entire year and specially conceived for travellers of high and medium standing. An interesting way of increasing the average expenses per tourist.
Majorca for families
Another of the main attractions of the Balearic Islands is its largest island. Majorca has the perfect size to stay for more than one holiday week, it offers nature, beaches, mountains, towns with cultural and traditional plans during the whole year, the best international connections in almost all the country, and services specialized in all types of travellers: sport lovers, children, couples, backpackers, those who travel alone, with friends… All this makes it a versatile destination specially preferred by families
Peace, gastronomy for all tastes, leisure plans for children, relax areas and wonderful beaches and coves for breaking the routine, and complete hotels with all types of prices. In Majorca, families can book a spa and golf hotel next to Palma, an aparthotel for children in Alcudia, a hotel in Cala Barca for getting away from it all, or an All-inclusive hotel in Cala Ratjada to stay 15 days.
Ibiza, always young
It is truth that Ibiza has a thousand faces and you cannot discover all of them at night, but this island still sells the eternal youth spirit that even the most reluctant one buys. There is no age to go to Ibiza, but all the visitors bring the same energies: enjoying relaxation, nature, sea and, of course, the tireless fun ambience which seems to emanate right from its centre.
In order to receive all types of public, even those who travel with children, Ibiza has been creating new leisure centres, adapting bars, restaurants and discos to more specific profiles, and creating a paradise where glamour and jet set feel at ease. So, you can find 5 star accommodations, luxury apartments and Adults Only hotels in Es Canar, San Antonio and even in Vila, the capital of Ibiza.
Minorca, the British island
Its relations with Great Britain go back to many years ago. Minorca is and has been a British bastion in the Mediterranean as far as holiday is concerned. With high-medium class travellers, this island receive every year some of the most important political, economic and cultural figures in Europe, especially those who come from the United Kingdom.
Declared Biosphere Reserve thanks to its great natural richness, this important attraction joins to the excellent gastronomy it offers, the charm of the fishing villages, the beautiful and quiet coves… All this and the very varied hotel trade shape the the medium-sized island of the Balearic Islands. Although the demand has decreased in last years, it is still the privileged destination of high standing in the Mediterranean.
