Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
The UK’s largest travel association raised some eyebrows when it chose the Mallorca resort of Magaluf to host its annual industry conference.
As it brought around 300 of Britain’s leading tour operators to Calvia this week, the Association of British Travel Agents insisted that the former party capital had transformed from its reputation of binge-drinking and booze.
Mark Tanzer is presenting the three-day celebration, which will run until Wednesday. This event takes place in the middle of what used to be Europe’s most notorious alcohol tourism destination.
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Amengual thanked British operators who had chosen Magaluf for their tourism.
The Calvia mayor was keen to highlight the €40 million in public and private investment that has supposedly transformed the zone, moving it away from its reputation for drunken excess.
Amengual has revealed what officials tout as proof of change: that in Magaluf there have been no balconing incidents for more than three year.
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According to reports, the dangerous practice of drunken tourists jumping from hotel balconies is now a thing of the past.
The investment, largely funded through European funds, has deliberately targeted a different clientele, with solo travellers and families now the priority over groups of friends seeking wild nights out – at least, that’s the official line.
Balearic Tourism Minister Jaume Bauza reinforced the message, calling Magaluf a ‘clear example’ of the sustainable, quality tourism model the Balearics are pursuing.
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Sanchez revealed that British tourists remain Spain’s most valuable market – and perhaps most loyal – with over 18 million UK visitors this year generating around €22 billion for the Spanish economy.
In the three months from June to August, 13,000,000 British tourists visited Spain.
Spanish Tourism Secretary Rosario Sanchez declared that future tourism development must allow both tourists and residents to ‘coexist and enjoy a better environment together’.
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The Spanish government has invested €300 million of EU funds in the Balearics to drive this transformation toward quality and sustainability.
Tanzer confirmed that Spain and Mallorca remain among the top destinations for British holidaymakers, with annual surveys showing even more UK residents expressing interest in visiting the islands – quality transformation or not.
The ABTA chief admitted that the complaints about the overtourism of Mallorca reached British ears but said they did not discourage UK tourists from booking Balearic holiday.
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