The Director of the Spanish Tourist Office (OET) in London, Ignacio Vasallo, affirmed last week that, although sales of package holidays to the Balearic Islands were very slow at the beginning of the year in the U.K., they have gradually been increasing in the successive months and, if the trend continues, they should be on a par with last year.
Vasallo made the statements at the Congress of British Tour operators and agents STA/AITO which was held in Porto Petro in Mallorca last week and which was attended by a total of 150 independent and specialist travel agents. The Regional Councillor for Tourism and Labour, Joana Barceló, was also present at the press conference, as were STA/AITO President Barry Moxley and the Director of the Mallorca Tourist Board, Mar Suau.
The Director of the OET in London stressed that "everything that is put on the market" is being sold, leading him to hope that the tour operators would ask for their airport slots to be increased. At the moment British tour operators have nearly three million seats on the market.
According to Vasallo, Menorca has sold "better" and "sooner" than the other Balearic Islands as it is known as a family holiday destination, a characteristic that has led tour operators to make special offers on holidays to the island. On the other hand, Ibiza which is considered a holiday place for couples has sold poorly, but sales will probably improve at the last minute.
Barry Moxley, the President of the STA/AITO congress which is held annually, explained that the event is aimed at specialist travel agents which do not deal in mass tourism but do have clients with a higher spending power.
Regional Councillor Joana Barceló added that the independent travel agents have around one million clients in the United Kingdom.
Targeting the Russian market
Several meetings held with the Russian authorities and tour operators have revealed that there is a definite interest in the Balearic Islands as a holiday destination in the former Soviet Union.
Last week a direct flight was launched between Palma and Moscow and next year there could also be a direct connection between Menorca and the Russian capital. The Russian tour operator Natalie Tours already sends clients to Menorca but with flight changes en route.
With direct flights once or twice a week and and an improved visa application process, it is believed that the newly-emerging and ever-increasing Russian market could play a major role in Balearic tourism within a few years.
Sin comentarios
Para comentar es necesario estar registrado en Menorca - Es diari
De momento no hay comentarios.