"We have heard it all before," was how Balearic President Francina Armengol reacted to reports at London's World Travel Market today (Monday) which indicated that Turkey was trying to steal tourists away from the Balearics. "This time last year at the World Travel Market, we heard the same thing and the number of British tourists coming to our islands increased by two per cent," she said. "We have a fantastic holiday destination which will be hard to beat," and she added that competition was always healthy.
But should the Balearics be concerned? Turkish hoteliers have slashed their prices and a holiday there is 50 per cent cheaper compared to its Balearic equivalent. Some British travel firms are hedging their bets, expanding in Turkey but at the same time keeping an enormous programme to the Balearics. A veteran British travel expert told me that Turkey had a lot to offer and could dent the late booking market with its all-inclusive hotels, all of which are less than ten years old and come with their own water parks on site.
But the Balearics are the Balearics and to be truthful the islands are not even promoting the summer in London - it is low-season tourism. Armengol is not concerned about Turkey, she is concerned that there could be too many tourists coming to the islands in the summer which could result in a backlash locally. This is why winter is the byword in London. Not even plans by the government to increase the rate of tourist tax for next season has caused a ripple amongst the travel trade. 2017 was a fantastic season and early indications look to be the same again next year. Some may cry wolf and warn of Turkey and even further afield, but the numbers are with the Balearic government.
The view in London today was that it would take a lot more than a cheap Turkish delight to get the Balearics worried.
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Here's a story from Croatia, especially for people comparing Croatia with Majorca. My friends were driving rather slowly (about 15-20 mph) along a scenic coastal road there so that they could admire the views when they were stopped by a policeman and told that they were being issued with a penalty for speeding ! Naturally they were astonished at this, because they had been travelling so slowly, but thought it better not to argue too much over it, and paid an on-the-spot fine in cash to the police officer of about £15 at the most. As they drove further along the road, they saw two more stationary cars accompanied by a police car which had pulled them over, and so they assumed that these two cars were being pulled over for speeding like they had been. They also noticed that these other two cars, like their car, had foreign and not Croatian registration plates. I have never heard of anything similar happening in Majorca.
We as a group of golfers ranging from 10 to 16 have traveled to Mallorca for some 18 years,last occasion May this year. We will never be back due to; Rip off prices at courses of 100 Euro + excluding buggies.Who do they think they are seriously.Turkey is way cheaper and far better golfing all round.If we normally spend £ 1500 a head for a week count it up.
Not one sandy beach in the whole country in Croatia (the 2-3 they call sandy are very disappointing up close). Even Areanal is heaven compared to Croatia if you need sand. The locals are driving like crazy and you can't say there is no hostility towards tourists (thanks to the brit youngsters). Special rules of minimum clothes and street drinking had to be introduced in some areas this year because of them. The scenery, the food, the girls and the hospitality (given that you are not a half naked guy singing God Save The Queen on the promenade dead drunk at 10 am) are hard to beat though.
Lets see how Croatia copes when, or if, it´s tourist industry becomes as popular as Mallorca´s which has 7 times less coastline. Of course mistakes have been made, but taking into consideration it´s size and the fact that you can only arrive mainly by plane, it hasn´t done too badly.And if you want peace and quiet, why not try Menorca ?:
I've been to Croatia, Turkey and Greece, but always return to Mallorca. Just 2hrs from UK. Excellent accommodation, beaches, mountains, restaurants, and best of all Mallorcan hospitality.
Tim Cairns is right. Croatia is absolutely beautiful. It has gorgeous costal resorts and islands that look like they've been dropped into turquoise seas. Croatia has architecture to die for, having once been part of the Venetian empire. Italian influence abound everywhere. All in all it has much more to offer than the overhyped and overcrowded Balearics. And the cherry on the cake is that Croatia actually want tourism. I know it sounds ludicrous. It'll never catch on !!
It’s not Turkey you want to be aware of losing the tourists too it’s Croatia. No rip off Tourist Tax, No hostility towards tourists, No Long Queues in the Airport and No expensive prices for meals and drinks. Unfortunately Mallorca is going backwards!!!!! This is written from a genuine visitor to the island for many years. It’s saddening to write.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING !!!!! Except from apartments to stay in .......
It depends what sort of tourist you are: Turkey is probably as safe as Mallorca for people who want hotel, beach, sea/pool type holidays largely in the souhern Turkey resorts: so I'd say that on price and safety they are roughly on a par with Mallorca. However the sort of free-to-roam holiday which I enjoy and has seen me well away from normal Turkish resorts is not now sensible in my opinion. Turkish people generally are helpful and of no threat, but there are many political factions following Erdogan's rise to power and a dead tourist may be a good trophy for them. I don't intend to take the risk, I hate being fenced-in to hotel life of sun, sea and sand. So for the once independent roaming traveller like me, Turkey may well lose income. It still can provide realistic competition on price for restricted-area hotel holidays and Mallorca's tourism politicians should avoid complacency. Next season for Mallorca may yet be poor.