Spanish island begging for tourists - but snubs Brits for Americans
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One of Spain's most popular holiday destinations is targeting even more visitors next year, despite recent anti-tourist protests. Majorca has long been a favourite place for Brits to visit - but from 2025, Palma 365 Tourism Foundation aims at bringing American sunseekers to the largest of the Balearic Islands. The news comes following a series of local stands against overtourism across multiple Spanish locations.
In July, around 10,000 protestors took to the streets of the Majorcan capital Palma to demonstrate about mass tourism and its effects on their homes and livelihoods. This was Palma's second major demonstration of the year against tourist saturation, as pro-tourism campaigners retorted with: "Why bite the hand that feeds you?".
Around 2.3 million Brits visit Majorca each year, which makes up for around 26% of the island's total tourist traffic. Part of the attraction comes from fact that it only takes around two hours and 20 minutes to fly there from the UK, with direct return flight from London Stanstead costing as little as £67 at the time of writing.
Now, the tourist foundation has a budget of €1.5million (£1.24million) after Palma deputy mayor and councillor for tourism Javier Bonet said the North American market has "one of the best profiles" in terms of spending and its interest in culture, heritage and gastronomy. He added: "It is a very interesting market for Palma," reports Majorca Daily Bulletin.
United Airlines will increase its weekly New York flights from three to four for next summer, but the town hall's mission is to have flights all-year round. The foundation already has a communications agency in Berlin, London and Madrid and there are plans to set one up in New York next year. Additional activities aimed at increasing US tourism in Majorca include a promotional trip to New York at the end of February as well as meetings with tour operators and organising specialist travel press.
