Majorca Goes All Inclusive
Author: Roger Munns
January is traditionally the month when most British people book their
holidays, but quite how many have done so for this year won't be known for
a while yet.
With the economy in both the US and Europe in recession, holiday destinations
are bracing themselves for a dismal summer, as many tourists decide to have
a holiday in their own country - or skip holidays altogether for 2009.
Areas that traditionally see a high percentage of their visitors come from
the UK could be particularly hard hit, as the British pound has sunk to
a new low level against the Euro, and isn't doing too well against the US
dollar either.
Some early suggestions are that Cyprus might lose up to 20 per cent of her
British tourists this year, and there are plenty of other holiday islands
in Europe which will be watching Britain's currency closely in the coming
months, hoping that it will rise and holiday bookings to those areas with
the Euro pick up.
But the Spanish holiday island of Majorca isn't taking things lying down,
and 2009 could see holidays in Majorca be more popular than any other area
of Spain again, despite her British visitors getting far less of the local
currency than on previous visits to the island.
Majorca has an astonishing hundred years and more tourism experience, and
has survived in that time two world wars, the Spanish Civil War, fascist
dictatorship as well as town planners to emerge as a holiday island capable
of catering for both the cheap getaway to the sun, but also the luxury holidays
market in villages like Deia, and has responded well to for the increasing
concern from many tourists for the environment.
Villa Holiday In Majorca
Part of that change for the environment has been responding to what British
and German visitors want, as well as cutting down on waste. Majorca has
for example opened up quite a few miles of cycle tracks, and local businesses
have responded with cycle hire shops dotted around the island.
The challenge for Majorca this year is not how best to respond to global
warming, or to offset holidaymakers co2 emissions from their flights to
Majorca, but simply to get the tourists to visit at all.
Majorca's position as Europe's number one holiday destination is under threat
from Turkey, and further afield Egypt will be taking holidaymakers away
too - neither Turkey or Egypt use the Euro for their currency, while Majorca
does. The British pound has fallen dramatically against the Euro making
holidays in Majorca more expensive for British tourists, while Egypt and
Turkey with their own currencies work out better value for Brits abroad.
But Majorca has seen competitors before who have taken away market share
from the holidays island, only to see her popularity return. Florida for
example became very much in vogue for a while, but the weather in Majorca
seemed to pull tourists back after a few years. But while the Majorca weather
can be relied on, what can beat the volatility of the currency markets to
attract holidaymakers for 2009?
The answer it seems is the return of the package holiday. Many in the travel
industry had predicted the end of package holidays - where a holiday includes
flights, hotel, breakfast and an evening meal (half board) or lunch too
(half board) - due to the ability to book different components of a holiday
online, but for British holidaymakers booking a package holiday with companies
like Thomas Cook cuts the amount of spending money they need in Majorca
dramatically - and makes a holiday in Majorca for 2009 possible.
Majorca it seems is the little island that comes packaged up for 2009 holidays!
About the Author:
European airlines offering cheap Majorca flights and holiday companies with
holidays in Majorca are available at yourmajorca.net