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Balearic tourism benefiting from current unrest in Egypt

The turmoil in Egypt and Tunisia has led to many British and German tourists cancelling their holidays and looking for alternative destinations

Arrivals. The Mundosenior programme enables three hotels to stay open in the low season

C.M.W.Maó07/02/11 0:00

The current unrest in Tunisia and Egypt could benefit tourism in the Balearic Islands this summer. The latest advice given by the British Government's Foreign and Commonweaalth Office to would-be travellers to Egypt is "we advise against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez" and although the government web site states that the Red Sea Resorts remain calm, "the situation across Egypt is unpredictable and may change quickly". In the case of Tunisia, travellers are warned to "be aware of the current political and security situation" and advised that a nightly curfew has been imposed in the Greater Tunis area and may spread to other areas. The low-cost airline Jet2.com has cancelled all its flights to Tunisia this summer.

In 2009, 1.34 million British Nationals visited Egypt and around 350,000 holidayed in Tunisia, but as a result of the uncertain situation many tourists have cancelled their planned holidays in the two countries and are looking for other more settled and tranquil destinations, such as the Canaries or Balearic Islands. The director of the OET (Spanish Tourist Office) in London, Ignacio Vasallo, believes that during the first half of the year it is probable that tourists will turn to the Canary Islands or opt for any vacancies available in Turkey, but that in the summer months they will choose places in the Mediterranean, such as Menorca.

The German Foreign Ministry is urgently advising all its nationals not to travel to any part of Egypt, including the Red Sea Resorts. Although it admits that the situation in the tourist resorts is calm at present, it warns that the conflict is unpredictable and could also lead to a shortage of basic products and travel difficulties.

The main German tour operators have cancelled all holiday reservations in Egypt until 14th February.

Return of Senior Tourists

The Spanish Senior Tourism season started last week with visitors arriving at the three hotels in the scheme: the Club Hotel Almirante Farragut in Ciutadella; the Club Hotel Topacio y Aguamarina in S'Arenal d'en Castell; and this year, for the first time, the Fiesta Hotel Castell Playa, also in S'Arenal d'en Castell.

The Mundosenior programme brings older tourists to the island during the low and mid seasons, with a daily occupancy rate of 2,400 tourists; enough business to allow the three hotels to stay open.

Menorca is a popular destination on the Mundosenior holiday programme and there is a strong possibility that a further 750 places will be created on the island which would involve another three hotels, yet to be decided although one will probably be the Hotel Hamilton in Es Castell, once the refurbishment is finished.