May to October passenger figures up 45,109 on last year

Although the figures for arrivals by sea have yet to be added, ASHOME's report shows that the continual decrease in numbers of foreign tourists over the last few years has been halted this year, or at least slowed down.

Of the 45,109 extra arrivals this year, 22,932 were foreigners and 22,177 Spanish; with Britain, Italy and Germany being the points of origin for the majority of foreign tourists, and the cities of Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, Palma and Valencia supplying the most national visitors.

ASHOME attribute the increased figures in the foreign market to the agreements signed with tour operators which avoided a drop in the number of beds included in their programmes, especially in the case of the U.K., and in the national figures, to Estrella Damm's advertising campaign, filmed in Menorca.

Having had to reduce the prices charged for holiday accommodation this year, in order to comply with a demand made by the tour operators as part of the agreements, the hoteliers are now hoping that the forecast increase of between 3% and 4% in tourist figures next year will see a return to profit for their businesses.

Description of the 'average' British tourist

A report on the British tourist market presented at the recent World Travel Market in London gives a description of the "average" British holidaymaker who chooses the Balearic Islands for his holiday.

Supposedly, he is aged between 25 and 44 years, works for someone else and has an average level of income.

He travels in a group and his reason for coming to the archipelago is for a holiday and leisure (in 98.2% of cases). He enjoys sports (golf, sailing, walking), music, culture and free time (weekend breaks and stag nights).

The average tourist normally leaves it quite late to book his holiday and over half (50.5%) reject the package holiday. In most cases (75.9%) he will choose a hotel for accommodation, with a rating of 3 or 4 stars, and 74.7% of British tourists will use the Internet to plan their holiday.

Once here, the British appear to enjoy the Islands, 32.8% giving them 8 out of 10 and 25.1% full marks.

The Balearic Islands are the most popular region of Spain for the British holidaymaker, ahead of the Canary Islands, Andalucía, Valencia and Catalunya.