According to the Exceltur alliance of leading companies in Spain's tourism and travel industries, tourist spending in the Balearics has risen by four per cent this year compared with 2024.
This figure was announced in Palma on Tuesday by the president of Exceltur and the CEO of Meliá Hotels International, Gabriel Escarrer. "This is a better season than 2024 in general terms, although there are differences depending on the market," explained Escarrer, who pointed to the slowdown in German tourism due to the "moderate recession" in that country.
For Escarrer, the increase in tourist spending confirms the hotel industry's commitment to quality tourism: "Our roadmap is clear and includes tourists with higher purchasing power and new markets such as the United States, the Arab world and Asia, with a significant increase in Korean visitors. We are on the right track."
Escarrer was speaking at an event to mark the Mallorca Hoteliers Federation becoming the first hotel association to join an Exceltur initiative known as 'Tourism that adds value'. This has 80 measures for reducing tourist overcrowding, improving relations between residents and visitors, strengthening working conditions, boosting environmental commitment, and promoting more balanced governance.
Javier Vich, president of the hoteliers federation, said that this season will end having been "similar to last year's", noting that the final assessment will have to wait until October. As to the initiative, he said it is "in line with the federation's way of working". Escarrer stated that the initiative seeks a tourism that is "more sustainable, responsible and friendly, and contributes more value to society".
* The figure of four per cent differs to that given in the most recent Egatur report for tourist spending. Up to July, according to Egatur, total foreign tourist spending in the Balearics rose 1.6%. As has been widely reported, the restaurant, retail and nightlife sectors have all been pointing to lower spending.