Beach boom in Balearics

Hotel bookings in the Balearics may be just one per cent down on the same period last year, but the beaches were packed yesterday with the region gripped by peak season fever. Some Calvia shopkeepers have been complaining that takings are down this year, probably because most people are on the beach. Hotels are currently 96.6 per cent full and in Minorca the island is fully booked. Resorts popular with British tourists such as Alcudia and Pollensa have picked up considerably, with the British market continuing to expand. Balearic hoteliers are relieved that bookings have picked up and are confident that occupancy will remain high well into October to make up for the poor start to the summer.