Across-the-board decrease in tourist trade

Majority of tourist-orientated businesses report drop in trade

Maó. Vehicles arriving for the private sector, not the public

Despite the decrease in trade for companies renting cars to the tourist trade, during the first six months of this year 25.7% more new cars were registered

CHRISTINE M. WATTERSON.Maó

According to a study carried out by PIME (the small and medium sized business association in Menorca) last month saw 90% of the companies associated with the tourist trade reporting a drop in the amount of business generated compared to the same period in 2003, as has been the general pattern since the beginning of the tourist season this year.

The companies involved in the survey are all directly related to the tourist trade, including marine tourism, bars, cafes and restaurants, alternative tourism, car hire and accommodation.

The statistics show that almost 90% of those questioned either equalled or suffered a drop in income compared to the same period last year, results which are comparatively worse than for last month. Some 83.8% of bars, cafés and restaurants have experienced a drop in trade.

Fewer air passengers

During June 2004 a total of 380,336 passengers passed through the island´s airport, a drop of 9.1% compared to the same period last year and a decrease of 12.1% in the volume of international traffic.

Less hired vehicles but more private

.Despite the drop in the tourist trade, which includes the car hire companies´ busness, the first six months of this year saw an increase of 25.7% in the number of cars registered in Menorca. The figure is even more surprising when taking into consideration that, between January and June last year, there was a drop of 0.6% in the number of vehicles making their debut on the island´s roads and in 2002 as a whole, 26.7% fewer new vehicles were registered.