Balearics see huge leap in UK visitors
The Balearic Islands saw a 20% increase in UK visitors during May compared with the same month last year.
UK visitors to Mallorca were up by 17.6% year on year, while Menorca saw almost a 24% increase. Numbers to Ibiza and Formentera combined were up by almost 25%.
From January to May 2017, a total of 818,802 UK tourists visited the Balearic Islands, a 9.2% increase compared to the same period last year.
The Balearic Islands Tourism Board said the increase during this period was in line with its new tourism strategy of attract more visitors all year round.
"The ‘Better in Winter’ strategy places emphasis on the advantages of travelling to the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera) at a quieter, more authentic time of year and promotes the region as more than just a sea and sun destination," it said.
The islands are also undoubtedly benefiting from the travel ban on other popular winter sun destinations, including Tunisia, the ban on flights to Sharm el Sheikh, and the withdrawal of capacity to Turkey.
Britons accounted for 28% of the 1.9 million visitors to the Balearics in May, making the UK the second biggest market behind Germany.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
AirlineRatings reveals world's safest airline rankings for 2026
Vietnam warns airlines of possible flight reductions amid jet fuel shortages
Fliggy opens AI-powered travel bookings and developer tools