| The 2007 battle between holiday resorts to attract | | | | frequented Nice, to the extent where the main |
| visiting tourists and their wallets each summer is over, | | | | boulevard was named the Promenade d'Anglais. |
| and it appears that the Spanish island of Majorca has | | | | Nearly 200 million people have taken a holiday in |
| won over the British market at least. | | | | Majorca over the last hundred years, with British and |
| Since the advent of package holidays some fifty | | | | Germans the two nationalities heading the list of |
| years ago initiated by holiday companies such as | | | | arrivals. The British have tended to head east to |
| Thomas Cook and Thomson Holidays, whole areas of | | | | Magaluf and Palma Nova, the Germans to Arenal in |
| Spain and other European countries have built their | | | | the west of the island. |
| economies around tourism, and each year they hope | | | | And while Majorca has a rich history of tourism, it is |
| that the holidaymakers will come to their area. Some | | | | keeping up to date with modern expectations to make |
| islands like Menorca and Majorca are almost entirely | | | | sure it stays at the top of British and German holiday |
| dependent upon having a modern economy and | | | | plans. Arenal has just opened a new 40 million Euro |
| infrastructure through incoming tourism. | | | | aquarium, while Magaluf has opened a new theme |
| In June this year predictions were for a dire 2007 for | | | | park based around Indiana Jones type adventures, |
| the holidays and flights market, with Spain and the | | | | with both new attractions family orientated, and |
| Spanish islands including Menorca and Majorca being | | | | enough to keep holidaymakers happy in case the |
| badly hit. The important UK market was slow, and | | | | weather in Majorca isn't quite what they had hoped |
| British tour operators had reportedly close to a million | | | | for. |
| holidays left unsold for the rapidly approaching peak | | | | The first hotel to cater for tourists dates back as far |
| summer months. | | | | as 1903 when the Grand opened her doors for |
| But after an unseasonly warm April in Britain when | | | | business, the first of many hotels in Majorca to spring |
| many people were considering taking a holiday in | | | | up between now and then. The tourists then were |
| traditionally popular areas of the UK for holidays such | | | | Europe's wealthy, and they were delighted with |
| as Scotland, Devon and Cornwall, the move towards | | | | Majorca and what the island had to offer, securing the |
| an overseas holiday changed as quickly as the | | | | island as a holiday destination well before the days of |
| weather. Widespread floods led to mass holiday | | | | low cost flights and package holidays had become a |
| bookings and flights to Majorca, to the extent where | | | | reality some sixty years later. |
| some tour operators were able to return their holiday | | | | Perhaps not seeing that Majorca would become one |
| costs to full prices - and from a million unsold holidays | | | | of Europe's top holiday destinations for allcomers, the |
| people were suddenly having to take what was | | | | island first tried successfully to pitch herself as a niche |
| available. | | | | market for honeymoons in the 1950's, with the second |
| Further worries were for the German market - along | | | | world war and Spanish Civil War having brought earlier |
| with the UK a vital market for holidays in Majorca, with | | | | attempts at incoming tourism into a state of |
| the enviromental costs and carbon footprint dissuading | | | | suspension, and the first true package holiday tourists |
| some from taking flights to Majorca. | | | | arrived in 1952. |
| In recent years traditional holiday destinations such as | | | | But it was the advent of the jet that really boosted |
| Spain have faced new competition from Eastern | | | | Majorca, and made flying to Palma a real possibility for |
| European countries, with often lower cost holiday | | | | millions of Europeans. With flights to Majorca coming |
| packages and flights, but despite initial signs of a real | | | | down in price significantly in recent years and a host of |
| challenge, Spain seems to have seen them off for the | | | | airlines operating from airports across Europe, Majorca |
| moment at least, with overall visitor numbers for 2007 | | | | has never been so accessible, and the traditional |
| expected to rise compared to last year. | | | | fortnight has been surpassed by frequent 3 and 4 day |
| Among the tourists to the number one destination of | | | | trips two or three times a year for many people, and |
| Mallorca for holidays this year have been the Spanish | | | | with many Europeans who are environmentally |
| Royal Family. The Royals traditionally spend their | | | | conscious moving away from long distance holidays in |
| summer holidays on the island at the Marivent Palace, | | | | destinations such as Florida, the map of Majorca might |
| with this year being no exception. Previous guests | | | | well appear in more households when planning a |
| some years ago during their holidays in Majorca have | | | | holiday. |
| included Princess Diana with Princes William and Harry | | | | The increase in the number of tourists to Majorca has |
| while they were still toddlers. The Spanish Prime | | | | been measured, and it makes fascinating reading. In |
| Minister also traditionally visits Majorca for a meeting | | | | 1950, Majorca and her sister islands of Menorca and |
| with King Juan Carlos. | | | | Ibiza received under 100,000 tourists. By 1973 this had |
| The Royal Family holidaying on Majorca helps the | | | | grown to over 7 million for Majorca alone, and last |
| island's image with the mainland Spanish population, and | | | | year it had risen to over 9.5 million. |
| gives it an upmarket image, with many families taking a | | | | The race for ten million visitors next year has begun. |
| villa holiday in Majorca. | | | | YourMajorca.net offer travel details for Majorca, |
| Majorca weather | | | | including the latest flight to Majorca deals and hotel |
| Majorca has a rich holiday history compared to most | | | | Majorca information. |
| tourist destinations, and in Europe only the French | | | | Also included are reviews for hotels. |
| Riviera can compare, where the Victorian English | | | | |