A handful of businesses in Mallorca maybe think this whole crisis isn’t such a bad thing. Instead of going after overbooked hotels they are looking towards profit. “85% occupancy with greater profit is better than 100% occupancy with smaller margins,” said one hotelier. In addition, statistics reportedly show that with less tourists spending has increased 1% to €1,403 per person. I guess that’s a very small bright spot in a very dark summer.
But before you start to feel warm and fuzzy about the summer, let me add this. If you walked the streets of Palma de Mallorca this year you’d be shocked at how strangely quiet they were. There were restaurants that were once lively with people dining in August? Many sat half empty. Club dances? The sound systems were still pumping, there just weren’t the crowds. Bars across the Balearic Islands have reported as much as a 15% drop in patrons, restaurants showed a 15% drop in revenue. And no, It’s not because they are all making their own pasta in Airbnbs, however, that doesn’t help anything.
What Happened?
The so-called “island of eternal spring” has recently been caught up in Spain’s growing anti-tourism movement. Activists holding “Go Home!” signs have loudly made their voices heard in Barcelona, Malaga, and in Palma itself. That’s not quite what international travelers hope to see when they arrive at a Mediterranean island.
ADOPUMA, the local association responsible for managing beach concessions, has blamed these protests for driving tourists away. They have petitioned the government to intervene to try to cool down the sentiments before Mallorca’s position as a friendly, affordable destination for the middle-class traveler has completely gone down the drain.
More Than Angry Locals
Add on a few strikes by Ryanair- yes the infamous walkouts at 12 airports in Spain- and you have a perfect storm for disaster. Imagine spending a whole year saving for a summer break, only for delayed flights, closed bars, and rude graffiti to await you upon your arrival. No wonder some tourists decided that Croatia looked like a better deal.
A Mid-Story Point That Feels Like The Cheers
Now, we should be expecting highs of both Euros and occupancy in July and August. From beach bars to umbrella rentals, every business that positions itself in the right way benefits from steady Euros. But in actual fact there is a substantial 20% decrease in activity for July relative to last year. Even in August, the period of peak holiday activity, we saw low occupancy levels.
Tourism here isn’t an add-on to the economy. It is the economy. So you can imagine why we are all looking at tourism, the industry’s entirety should also be viewed in this way. The only thing that is making me feel I’m THAT deep into it is the mood fluctuations between panic and optimistic-whilst-we-gather-more-data, depending on who you ask.
And Back to Where We Started
Don’t get me wrong- Mallorca is still doing business. However, it is clear there is a big difference in comparison to the previous years of high summer activity. That said, let’s hope that we can look to see this as the opportunity to consider what type of tourism Mallorca wants to promote. Less time spent simply churning out beds every day, and more time considering the value of the travel experience and destination that guests want to choose and have. Perhaps there will now be less of everyone being crammed in, and more of those who value and respect the original low impact vibe of this (very) popular Majorcan destination.
Therefore, although I might be making a stretch when I suggest that tourist protests removes summer tourists from the beaches, very likely there is a version of Mallorca that is evolving into a more sustainable model. Perhaps fewer cheap parties and transient tourists; and probably importantly (but not terribly wrong since we do need these particles returning with currency to facilitate life), all considered, there will still be enough Euros for us to enjoy here again!.
