Low cost and last minute booms

According to data from Central Government's Ministry of Industry and Tourism yesterday, the number of people arriving by low cost airline in the Balearics last month represented 30.9 percent of the total tourist headcount coming to Spain by the same means.

Palma had the majority of low cost passengers in August, 1'007'516 - 6.5% more than during the same month last year, 22.5% of the total coming to Spain.

Data shows that from January to August this year, 4'676'627 passengers travelled through Palma airport, a growth of 4.6% in comparison with the same period last year.

From a national perspective, 6 out of every 10 foreign visitors to Spain in August travelled with a low cost airline.
Ryanair proved to be the most used low cost airline last month.
Meanwhile, forecasts for the end of this present tourist season have proved very positive over the past weeks. Clients from the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Scandinavia, Italy and France are apparently heading towards the principal tourist resorts of the island in droves.

Top choices are the Playa de Palma, Palmanova, Magalluf, Peguera, Santa Ponsa, Cala Millor, Capdepera, Alcudia, Can Picafort. “Last minute reservations have picked up enormously, chiefly because of the good weather here,” a Palmanova-Magalluf hoteliers' association spokesman said yesterday, claiming that bookings were picking up day after day, particularly amongst the British market.

Hoteliers along the Playa de Palma, in Peguera and Cala Millor have said that there has been a surprise turn-up for the books in reservations from Holland, Scandinavia, Russia, France and Italy.

This situation, they claim, has been continuing into September and to their surprise, the level of bookings into October has also been very encouraging, meaning that the season is extending until 20th October instead of finishing in the first week of that month.

The Hotel Federation of Majorca (FEHM) said yesterday that this September has proved to be “an exceptional month, provisionally the most exceptional of the whole season, and notably better than the same month in other years.” The Federation claimed that the class of tourists which are coming this month and next have a higher spending power than those who came in high season. This is reportedly being reflected in the amount of money being spent in bars, cafés and restaurants, on car hire and in other tourist businesses.

It is good news for hotels and their workers who because they will be keeping their doors open longer, will be extending the contracts of regular staff.