Corona is a thing of the past in Mallorca.
The Spanish Mediterranean island is hoping for a record number of visitors in 2023.
But for that, vacationers have to dig deep into their pockets.
Berlin/Mallorca – Everything gets better after Corona.
That is the general hope that also exists in Mallorca.
The Spanish Mediterranean island is preparing for a super season.
If the year continues as it started, then visitor records are imminent.
According to Focus Online,
the island airport had
860,000 passengers in January 2023 alone.
And that despite the fact that it had snowed unusually heavily on Mallorca at the beginning of the year.
But will it continue like this?
After all, the Corona low is followed by a price high when it comes to holidays in Mallorca.
There are reasons.
But first things first.
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Price explosion in Mallorca: According to forecasts, holidays on the Spanish Mediterranean island will be 33 percent more expensive this year.
© Clara Margais/dpa/imago/Montage
Mallorca vacation 2023 significantly more expensive: tourists must expect a price increase of 33 percent
According to the report, vacationers from Germany have again made up the largest proportion of foreign passengers.
We are talking about 177,000 people who were drawn to Mallorca in 2023.
“I just wanted a cheap vacation.
That's why the decision was made in Mallorca," says one of the vacationers, who could stay with a friend, apart from staying in a hotel.
Mallorca holidays will be around 33 percent more expensive in 2023 than in the previous year.
Juan Ferrer, President of the Palma Beach Quality Offensive, told Focus Online
After all, in times of high inflation you have to see where you are.
This applies not least to consumers who are aiming for a Mallorca holiday that will be "33 percent more expensive than in the previous year" in 2023.
That says Juan Ferrer, President of the
Palma Beach quality offensive
, which many hotels and restaurants on Playa de Palma have joined.
It doesn't matter whether it's flights, eating out or accommodation - everything is becoming more expensive.
New law in Mallorca prevents mass tourism - and increases the prices for vacations
“People even notice it when they go shopping.
Due to the island location, the prices on Mallorca rise even more than on the mainland,” Ferrer explains the precarious situation on the Mediterranean island, which has also been referred to in the media as “17.
federal state" - and is considered the first holiday destination of many Germans.
In 2023, they would therefore be confronted with a new price reality.
According to Ferrer, the price for a Mallorca holiday has roughly doubled in the past three years.
Because of the tourism law introduced in 2022, the costs would probably increase in the long term.
This law prohibits hotels from increasing the number of beds in order to slow down mass tourism.
"This year it hasn't had any impact yet.
It is to be hoped that future price increases will also be accompanied by a better offer from the hotels," says Ferrer in this context.
"They work too hard": German tourists would not sacrifice a holiday in Mallorca - despite the explosion in prices
Despite the price explosion in Mallorca, he does not assume that holidaymakers from Germany will be deterred from starting their trip as planned.
"You work too hard.
Nobody wants to sacrifice their vacation,” Ferrer is certain.
Basically, the trend would be to plan the trip in the long term in order to save money.
“Because of the pandemic, we tended to have last-minute bookings last year.
That has now changed,” says von Ferrer.
Son Sant Joan is being renovated: Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) wants to become more attractive for holidaymakers
Meanwhile, Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), also known as Son Sant Joan, is getting ready for the big rush of holidaymakers.
The airport is to be renovated in the next 39 months and thus into the summer of 2026.
However, the relevant work is suspended between April and October so as not to jeopardize the season.
A complete overhaul of the terminal, more check-in counters, new passageways to the gates and a relocation of the security checkpoint are planned.
This year, however, no changes within the PMI are likely to be visible.
Things are very different outside of Palma de Mallorca Airport, where a new cycle path will be built by March.
Then the airport can also be reached by bicycle for the first time.
The planned tram, on the other hand, will have to wait until 2027.
But: Innovations would be tackled, it said.
Price explosion in Mallorca also with advantages?
"Young drinking tourists not there"
The fact that prices are rising in Mallorca could also have positive aspects, says Ferrer.
Namely when the price increases, in his view, keep one or the other party vacationer with a low budget away from the island.
According to Ferrer, ten to 15 percent would look for another travel destination.
But that would not be a disadvantage.
After all, Palma Beach has been fighting for years against party holidaymakers who misbehave at the Ballermann and usually don't leave much money on the island.
Ferrer therefore also recommends an island vacation in the pre-season.
“The best time to visit Playa de Palma is from the last week of March to the first week of May.
Then the quality is particularly high.
The weather is good and the young drinking tourists are not there yet,” says Ferrer.
But of course there are other beautiful travel destinations in March, away from Mallorca.
Mallorca is hoping for a tourism boom in 2023 after the Corona low - seasonal workers can hardly find an apartment
There are also concerns in Mallorca with a view to the new high season.
Finally, it is still unclear whether there will be enough seasonal workers on the island in view of the expected influx of visitors.
The fact is: wages in Spain are low.
The minimum wage is 1,080 euros.
That's hardly enough for rent in Mallorca.
Apartments are often not available for less than 1,000 euros, a room in a shared flat in Mallorca would start at 400 euros.
The housing shortage is so great that the government is discussing social housing in converted sea containers or a legally difficult to enforce ban on the sale of real estate to foreigners.
Settlements made up of caravans have already emerged.
An idea born out of necessity.
“I have no criminal record, I don't do drugs, I've worked my whole life and I can't afford housing in my country.
It's demeaning," a security guard was quoted as saying by
Focus Online
.
He'd been sleeping in the car for half a year.
Around 30 involuntary campers have gathered in the parking lot of the Son Hugo swimming pool in Palma over the past few months.
"We all have jobs, but the money just isn't enough," is quoted a worker who hasn't had an apartment for five years.
"In the summer we will be even more," he says.
The supposed record summer.
Despite the price explosion in Mallorca.
List of rubrics: © Clara Margais/dpa/imago/Montage