At the end of February reservations for Menorca were down 3.4% in britain

More passengers over Easter but fewer expected in summer

Tourists. Only 26,500 package holidays had been sold in Britain by the end of February

Between 7th and 17th April, 2006, there were 629 flights arriving at or departing from Menorca airport, an increase of 56% over the Easter period last year which fell a month earlier, in March

Christine Watterson.Maó

Airport statistics show that there was only a slight increase in the number of passengers this March (0.8%) compared with the same month last year, despite the number of flights rising by 6.4%.

Easter falling later this year resulted in an increase in the number of flights over the period with a total of 629 arrivals and departures between 7th and 17th April; 56% more than were registered for the holiday period last year, 8th to 18th March.

The Menorcan Hoteliers´ Association confirmed that the average occupancy rate for the island´s hotels between 12th and 17th April was 80%, a 15% increase on the Easter period last year. However, the figure dropped considerably at the end of the Easter break last Tuesday and will not start to pick up again until the end of the month when the tourist season officially starts.

ASHOME reported that the majority of the hotels which had opened for Easter would remain so until the end of October; only one opting to close and reopen in May. As of last week, all the island´s urbanisations and tourist resorts had at least one hotel or apartment complex open.

Summer prediction

Despite a reasonable start, the rest of the season does not appear so promising for the hoteliers. ASHOME sources state that, at the end of March, the Spanish Office in London reported a 5% drop in the number of Britons booking holidays in Menorca, a "worrying" statistic bearing in mind the importance of the U.K. market to the island. The number of package holidays sold in Britain up to the end of February was 26,500 which is 3.4% less than at the same time in 2005.

The association states that the figures coincide with those provided by the tour operators and, to make matters worse, the companies have reduced the number of beds contracted for this season.

Fare increases

The recent rises in the cost of crude oil, reaching record-breaking prices, has prompted several airlines to increase their fares. British Airways has added a 7.3 euro fuel supplement onto the U.K.-Menorca fare and up to 50.6 euros on long distance flights.

At the beginning of this month Iberia and Air Europa both announced fare increases; the former adding 10 euros to national flight prices and 3 euros on international journeys; the latter charging a 9 euro fuel supplement.

ASHOME believes that other airlines will follow suit with "negative consequences" for the Menorca tourist season.

Promoting the Balearic Islands

The Balearic Institute of Tourism (IBATUR) and Turespaña last week unveiled their proposals for collaboration with tour operators to promote the Balearic Islands abroad. The budget for the campaign is 3 million euros which will be financed in equal proportions by the two authorities and the selected tour companies.

Priority will be given to selling Menorca in Great Britain in an attempt to attract tourists to the island during the height of the summer and recover some of the market lost last year.

The island will be advertised on travel channels on television, the radio, in the press and on hoardings.

This campaign is in addition to the joint 4 million euro promotion by the two bodies entitled "Smile, you´re in Spain" which is also aimed mainly attracting tourists from the U.K., Germany and France, but also those from Italy, Belgium and Scandinavia.