Donald Trump is unsettling Mallorcan travellers. That is the main conclusion drawn by Pedro Fiol, president of Aviba, the Balearic association of travel agents, after analysing recent booking trends. The slowdown has become more noticeable since the arrest of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, although Fiol stresses that the decline had begun earlier.
“The international situation is extremely uncertain and travellers are nervous, so they avoid destinations that could become involved in conflict,” Fiol explains. He notes that the destinations most affected by this climate of fear are the United States, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico and Colombia.
Fiol says he is deeply concerned about how events are unfolding and warns that a further US military intervention abroad could be devastating for tourism. “We have been through similar situations before, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. When daily death figures were dominating the news, there was no point even opening the travel agency because nobody came in to book holidays. The same thing happened during the 2010 debt crisis: whenever Spain’s risk premium made the headlines, sales simply stopped,” he recalls.
He also points out that interest in travel to the United States has fallen sharply. “Even with a direct flight, demand is nowhere near what it used to be, and it remains to be seen what will happen with the direct route to Canada.” The situation in Cuba is even more severe. “Between the country’s ongoing supply shortages and the difficulties of obtaining a US visa afterwards, virtually no one is booking trips there,” he says.
Mexico is another destination causing concern, as it is also in Trump’s sights. “Recently, a couple came in to book their honeymoon in the Riviera Maya for July, but given the uncertainty about what might happen by then, they decided instead on a Mediterranean cruise,” Fiol explains.
Colombia is facing a similar situation. “The country had been establishing itself as an attractive tourist destination, not only for Colombians living in the Balearic Islands but also for other travellers. However, following threats from the US president, people are starting to feel uneasy about booking trips there,” he adds.
Safe destinations
According to Fiol, the only Latin American destination largely unaffected by current fears is Punta Cana. He also highlights Asia as the big winner. “Mallorcan travellers are increasingly choosing Asian destinations such as Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.”
He adds that this shift in the global order is also changing how people book their holidays. “Travellers are no longer booking so far in advance because of the uncertainty. There is also a growing emphasis on flexible tickets and travel insurance that covers conflict at the destination.”
Impact on tourism in the Balearic Islands
As for the potential impact on tourism in the Balearics, Fiol does not expect negative consequences. He believes European visitors continue to see the Islands as a safe destination, close to home, from which they could return within two or three hours if necessary.