The Balearic Government is seeking more reliable statistics to help determine the true number of tourists who visit the islands each year. To this end, it has requested the cooperation of Spain's interior ministry, the only body with records of the exact figures for arrivals by air and sea as well as for overnight stays in tourist accommodation.
The government's tourism director-general, Miquel Rosselló, says the ministry has all the police records; "therefore, the most reliable data".
The figures that are currently used come from the National Statistics Institute's Frontur reports of tourist movement. The Balearics Statistics Institute can make minor adjustments, but its figures are generally the same. Rosselló accepts that these are "reliable statistics" but believes they can and should be refined. "It's a matter of rigour."
His predecessor, Josep Aloy, recently pointed to the need to address the true number of tourists visiting the islands. An aspect of this is agreement on the definition of a tourist. "Is it someone who spends just one day and leaves, or someone who stays overnight in a tourist establishment and pays the tourist tax?"
In 2024, the Balearics registered a total of 18.7 million tourists, a figure that is expected to be surpassed this year. Forecasts suggest it will be just over 19 million. However, day-trippers, primarily cruise ship passengers, significantly increase the actual number.
Both Rosselló and Aloy agree that only the interior ministry can help refine the overall data and create statistics that accurately reflect reality and which will also give a true figure for the supply of illegal holiday lets.