ECONOMIC crisis and recession are also having a direct impact on the travel agency industry in the Balearics with figures showing that sales have slumped by 15 percent over the past year.
The regional association of travel agents, Aviba, said yesterday that this coming long weekend which celebrates the Spanish Fiesta de la Inmaculada is going to be the quietest all year. The association president, Carlos Almoguera said that the main reason for this relates to how the dates have fallen this year with the actual holiday - 6th December - falling on a Saturday, as well as for low demand. They added, however, that the travel destinations which are most in demand are those to the ski slopes, mainly in the Pyrenees.
Unlike last year, the Islands' travel agencies are suffering directly from the credit crunch in terms of clients not booking short and medium distance holidays . Customers are focusing on other priorities, said Almoguera, and cutting spending on non essentials. Lack of confidence in the future of the national economy has meant people are being cautious and some of the casualties of the slowdown are holiday bookings.