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By H. Carter

PALMA
IT appears that the recession is failing to dampen the spirits of the British with nearly three-quarters claiming that they intend to spend at least as much on their main holiday this year as they did last year - credit crunch or not.

The results of the YouGov poll conducted on behalf of the Carninal UK cruise line, three quarters of respondents claim that the recession has not forced them to alter their holiday plans.

With January visitor figures for the Balearics up on January, 2008, perhaps the Balearic tourist industry and the hoteliers are being over cautious.
Businesses in the Port of Pollensa have spoken of a busy winter period, 20 percent busier than last winter in some cases, and it appears that the British are going to travel as usual. But, as Minorca tourism chiefs recently warned the island's industry “if you're not open, you can't complain and you'll miss out on business once the market starts moving.” The Balearics also needs to continue nurturing its cruise sector and continue investing in port improvements. The YouGov poll also discovered that by 2012, the number of Britons taking a cruise holiday will hit two million.

Last year, 1.5 million Britons, a year-on-year growth of 12 percent, went on a cruise holiday and a further rise is expected this year with Palma a key and extremely popular destination in the Western Mediterranean.