Based on tourists arriving in Menorca by air

Almost quarter of a million foreign tourists lost since 2001

The number of British visitors this year, 501,251, is almost 165,000 lower than in 2001 and German tourism has nearly halved since the 2000 season

Christine M. Watterson.Maó

The 2006 tourist season has closed with a drop of 2.89% in the number of foreign visitors arriving in Menorca compared to last year´s figure which, in turn, was down by 11.8% on summer 2004. The statistics, which refer only to those foreign tourists arriving by air (the chosen method of travel for 94% of the island´s visitors), were presented last week by the head of the Fomento del Turismo, Emilio de Balanzó, and the board´s vice president, Josep Maria Camps.

Referring to the 2006 stadistics, Emilio Balanzó described Menorca´s position in the overseas markets as "weak". He called on the government to analyse the island´s apparent loss of appeal in some of the markets and also to increase the number of actions designed to give the island "its slice of the cake" in a world that is ever shrinking and in which new holiday destinations are forever entering the scene, such as Malta, Cyprus, the Seychelles, Thailand or the Caribbean, offering competitive prices and more of a hint of the exotic.

Between April and October a total of 501,251 British tourists visited Menorca, a drop of 9,156 on the previous year´s figures, but still the most important market for the island. The number of Germans was also down, with 4,847 (5.43%) fewer visitors this year. The number of Italians showed little variation this summer; the figure of 56,131 arrivals being only 265 lower than in 2005.

History of decline

The pattern of British visitors holidaying in Menorca has changed dramatically over the last sixteen years. In 1990 the number of tourists from the U.K. only reached 285,196, this being the time when the island was suffering a crisis in the tourist sector. The situation gradually improved up until 2001 which saw 665,866 British people choosing Menorca for their holidays. Since that year, however, the figures have steadily and dramatically declined, by a total of 165,000 over the five years. Taking the other markets into consideration the total number of foreign tourists that Menorca has lost since 2001 is 246,000, which is almost quarter of a million.

The head of Fomento says that the Fundació Turisme "has very important work to do"; not only recapturing tourists from the more traditional markets but also attracting others from countries where, until now, Menorca has not been seen as a popular choice of holiday destination. He believes that the island has sufficient attractions to bring in tourists but stresses the need for promotions and ensuring that high standards are maintained.