Holiday bookings to the Balearics have increased by 14.4% during the last week compared to the same days last year and grew by 18.3% compared to the previous week, according to data published on Monday by the Travelgate platform. The Balearics are the sixth most popular destination in Spain, with 7.6% of bookings, behind Andalusia (18.6%), Catalonia (18.1%), the Canary Islands (15.3%), the Community of Madrid (13.9%) and the Valencian Community (11.2%).
According to data published by the platform, 22.15% of last week’s bookings were made more than 90 days in advance of the holiday. 14.6% were made between 15 and 30 days in advance.
Last-minute bookings, made the day before or on the day of travel, accounted for 13.1%. Of the bookings made in the last week, couples accounted for 51.1% of the total.
Also, almost half of travellers (48.7%) requested accommodation for between 2 and 5 nights.
In terms of markets of origin, domestic tourism predominates among those who have made reservations in the last seven days through Travelgate: Spaniards accounted for 53.5%, followed by the British (18%) and Germans (3.5%).
However, British holidaymakers heading to Spain could experience significant delays at passport control as a new EU border security system creates disruptions at major airports. The Entry/Exit System (EES), which officially launched last Sunday at Madrid-Barajas Airport, marked the beginning of a Europe-wide initiative aimed at enhancing border security. The system, introduced by the European Union, requires travellers from non-EU countries, including the UK, to provide their fingerprints, facial images, and passport details every time they enter or leave the Schengen Area.
While the new system is designed to improve security and track visitors’ stays more efficiently, its implementation has already led to warnings about long queues and processing delays. According to reports from Vozpópuli, airlines and airport staff have expressed concerns that the checks could significantly extend processing times. While passport control previously took around 30 seconds per traveller, the new biometric system could take between three to five minutes per passenger. This means that during peak travel times, such as busy holiday flights, queues could stretch for hours, causing major frustration for travellers.
Madrid-Barajas Airport has become the first airport to implement the EES system. However, major Spanish airports like Barcelona-El Prat, Palma, Málaga-Costa del Sol, and those in the Canary Islands are set to follow in the coming days. These airports are especially popular with British tourists, and the new system is expected to cause major delays, particularly during half-term and summer holidays when travel numbers are high.