It may have been a throwaway comment, but buried in an interview with the CEO of TUI, Sebastian Ebel, about the tourism backlash in the Canary Islands, was a statement which caught my eye about the Balearics, and it is one that I don’t think the local authorities can afford to ignore.
Ebel said that Mallorca and Ibiza are also expected to see a surge in tourists this summer. “We might reach capacity limits in the Balearic Islands,” warned the TUI boss, who recently revealed that he had discussed opening up Algeria for beach holidays. That said, he was quick to underline that there are certain security issues about Algeria, but it’s on the table as a new destination.
Nevertheless, with the likes of Croatia, Greece, Egypt and Turkey making huge inroads into the summer holiday market, Mallorca does have some serious competition. Even Morocco, where Mallorcan hoteliers have been busy building new luxury all-inclusive resorts and hotels, is being well served with a host of direct flights from the UK this year.
And facing facts, many of the competing destinations are not only cheaper but more exotic and offer new experiences. At the end of the day, Mallorca is a sunshine beach destination for the vast majority which can no longer afford to rest on its laurels.