The alarm bells are ringing after reports that hundreds of bars and restaurants could go to the wall because tourists are spending less.
There is an easy explanation for this state of affairs; hotels have put up their prices meaning that tourists have less money to spend in resort. Remember, also, that bars and restaurants put up their prices.
There is now growing concern about summer´2025 and even the hoteliers have been forced to introduce a campaign on the lines of a Tourist, A Friend. But why the banner headlines? Isn’t this what a section of the Mallorcan community wanted? At the moment there are no accurate visitor number figures for the season so far, but I suspect that they are not good.
Why? Because the hoteliers introduced a campaign in the middle of the season underlining that tourists are welcome. A rather unusual move if you had a booming tourist industry, which is what most people who live on the island believe or are led to believe.
It is only a very small minority who are actively opposed to tourism but the Balearic government hasn’t down enough to ease the fears over tourism protests. So now we are heading for an average/poor summer season and there is concern. My view is be careful what you wish for... tourists who don’t feel welcome will not come.