Holiday apartments less popular

TOURIST apartments in the Balearics had 10.1 million overnight stays in 2005, 0.2 percent less than in 2004, with an average stay of 8.1 days (one less than in 2004) and a rate of occupation of 57.6 percent (one tenth less) according to figures released yesterday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The Balearics came second on the list of autonomous regions to have the most stays in tourist apartments, thanks to the increase in Spanish tourists staying (878'486, 39 percent more), while stays by foreign tourists fell by 3.7 percent, with 9.3 million stays. Also, the Balearics was the region with the most occupancy of rural accommodation, which reached an average of 49 percent in 2005, 9 percent more than in 2004 although the average stay fell to 6.1 days in comparison with 7.85 days in 2004. Rural accommodation had 438'871 overnight stays in the Balearics in 2005, some 22.2 percent more, with substantial increases, both in Spanish tourists (32.7 percent more, 70'950 people) and foreigners (20.3 percent more, 467'919 people). Majorca was head of the list for stays in rural accommodation with more than 384'000 stays in 2005 and an occupancy of 49.2 of available rooms according to the INE. As for non hotel accommodation, the Balearics was the third most popular choice.