The latest Frontur figures for tourist movements produced by Spain's National Statistics Institute show that Mallorca's total tourism in September increased by slightly under two per cent to 1,741,002. This was by comparison with September 2024.
Of the three main markets, Germany once more registered a slump - down eleven per cent to 554,667. German tourism has been falling ever since May this year; the September decrease was the greatest in percentage terms.
UK tourism, on the other hand, was up 6.1% to 324,392. This was the highest increase in percentage terms since May. There were decreases in June and July and a very slight increase in August. It might be noted that in September 2024, the year-on-year fall in UK tourism was over seven per cent.
Spanish tourism, meanwhile, increased 15.4% to 198,813. With the exception of Germany, all markets registered increases, the strongest performers having been France and the Nordic countries.
For the Balearics as a whole there was a 2.4% increase in total tourism. The UK was up just one per cent (to 535,248), there having been decreases for Menorca and for Ibiza/Formentera. German tourism fell 9.6% to 613,909.
The tourism authorities in the Balearics may well interpret UK figures since May as evidence of a redistribution away from the high-summer months, something that the authorities would like to see happen in general terms. Six per cent increases in UK tourism in May and September this year, contrasted with June to August performance, may support such an interpretation. Another is that prices aren't as high.
It certainly can't be said that there is a redistribution of German tourism, the continuing decline since May being attributed to domestic economic circumstances and holidaymaker price sensitivity.