Concern Majorca’s summer season will end early unless UK government lifts travel restrictions
A four-star hotel in Majorca has closed early for the season, prompting fears that more will shut down unless the UK government lifts its travel restrictions for Spain.
The Fergus Style Soller Beach in Puerto de Soller announced on its Facebook page that it was shutting its doors just shortly before tourists were due to arrive this week. Its website is not accepting any further bookings for stays until mid February 2021.
Head of the Majorca hotel federation Maria Frontera warned earlier this month that hotels on the island were only 37% occupied in July, 5% below expectations. This was despite the fact that only 57% of hotels were open.
An estimated 90% of British bookings were cancelled when the UK government reintroduced its warning against holidays in the whole of Spain – including the islands – on the weekend of 25 July, right at the start of the UK school summer holiday, after a spike in coronavirus cases in mainland Spain.
At the same time, the UK also removed Spain from the list of quarantine-exempt destinations.
The Balearic and Canary islands are arguing the UK should lift travel restrictions since they have a low number of cases, but this seems unlikely given the increase in cases across the rest of Spain.
Across the whole of country, the number of cases has risen to 25,926 in the past seven days, up from 18,272 in the previous week. In June, it had fewer than 3,000 a week.
On its Facebook page, the hotel wrote: "We are coming to you with not such great news, dear friends: due to the last COVID measures taken by UK Government, we have no other choice than close the hotel for this season.
‘We are devastated and we know that many of you will be too. We hope you all keep safe, positive and looking forward to come as soon as things get better, if not this year, the next one."
By Linsey McNeill, Editor (UK)
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 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive