Balearics are favourite spanish destination for British

Tourism sector shows signs of significant early year growth

Tourism. Cala Galdana beach, its popularity typical of July and August this year

Figures for period January to July show increased spending by visitors and large increase in Spanish tourists to Menorca, job prospects also rise

JOHN S. NUNN.Maó

Tourism in the Balearic Islands has had a massive boost this summer. Already, by the end of July, the tourist sector had earned more than it managed in the whole of 2002. Up to the start of August income from tourism was up by 12.8% on the previous year´s figure for the same seven months.

Menorca has welcomed 614,421 visitors during this period. The majority, 576,265, arriving by air. The British have increased in numbers this year and the Balearics are the favourite Spanish destination for people living in the UK, the Canaries ranking second favourite amongst the British. Amounts spent by the UK visitors is up on previous years, an important trend for local businesses considering the importance of the British market. Slovakian tourists have visited Menorca this year for the first time in significant numbers.

More Spanish visitors

However, the largest increase in visitors to Menorca has been from people coming from mainland Spain, with an increase of 12,600 during the first seven months. Just under a quarter of Spanish visitors arrived by ferry, with their cars.

In keeping with the increase in tourist numbers, the labour market to service these visitors has also expanded. Throughout the Balearics some 73,599 people are employed in the seasonal tourist market. Hotel occupancy rate in the Balearics was the highest recorded in Spain, however there was only a tiny increase in this rate in Menorca.

By contrast there is regret that nautical tourism is not thriving. The president of the Bars and Restaurants Association of Ciutadella, Mari Pons, blames the lack of sufficient mooring facilities in the port for the lack of income being generated from visiting boat owners.

Cleaning fleet hampered

The fleet of cleaning boats that is dedicated to maintaining high water quality, recovered significantly more rubbish from the coastal areas of the island than in 2005, reflecting the larger numbers of visitors. However, their efforts were hampered during August by the prevalence of the strong northerly winds, which prevented them leaving port on many days. Thankfully, the amount of oil found and recovered was negligible. Chief items collected were wood, plastic and organic matter.