Mallorca Hoteliers Launch “Thanks for Visiting Mallorca” Campaign
What the Campaign Is About
The Federation of Hotel Businesses of Mallorca (FEHM) has brought back its “Thanks for visiting Mallorca” effort.
The goal is simple: remind everyone that tourism and island life can work together when we show respect and share responsibility.
Message of Respect
Slogans like “This is your holiday, this is our home, let’s all care” and “Let’s keep it special together” appear on posters and online.
They stress that while tourists enjoy their stay, locals also deserve a clean, safe neighbourhood.
Where You’ll See It
- 14 billboards scattered across the island
- Digital ads and social media posts running all season
Why Hotels Are Speaking Up
FEHM represents over 870 hotels through 23 local associations.
Its president, Javier Vich, says the campaign is a response to growing concerns about overcrowding, but he points out that hotels are not the main cause.
Growth of Hotels vs. Rentals
- Hotel rooms have risen only 6 % in the last 12 years.
- Regulated tourist rentals jumped 176 % in the same period.
- Last year, hotels saw a 2 % dip in guests, while regulated rentals grew 14.7 % (2.4 million visitors).
- Unregulated or private stays added another 2.6 million guests, up 10.4 %.
Vich argues that the feeling of too many people comes mostly from homes turned into short‑term lets—many of them illegal—rather than from hotels.
Problems with Illegal Rentals
Illegal offerings are hard to count, but they convert residential buildings into tourist lodgings, which can disturb neighbourhood life and strain local resources.
Looking at the Summer Season
Visitor Trends
- The German market is slower than usual, affecting places like Cala Ratjada, though last‑minute bookings are picking up.
- UK demand is higher than last year, making Britain a key driver for Mallorca’s summer.
- Overall, FEHM expects a season similar to 2023—steady, with modest growth in value rather than huge jumps in visitor numbers.
Extending the Season
About 20 % of Mallorca’s hotels stay open year‑round.
FEHM wants to push that number higher by encouraging earlier openings and later closures, which spreads tourism demand across more months and reduces pressure during peak weeks.
New flight routes from New York, plus services from Air Canada and Etihad, are bringing visitors who tend to stay longer and spend more, supporting the idea of “quality over quantity.”
Future Steps
Calls for Stronger Rules
FEHM urges authorities to:
- Tighten controls on irregular tourist accommodation
- Speed up sanctions to deter illegal lets
- Reconsider recent authorisations—like the 1,069 new tourist places approved by the Consell de Mallorca—that could add to congestion
Focus on Value, Not Numbers
Javier Vich sums up the association’s view:
“We don’t expect major growth; we aim for a stable season, with slight value increases and better activity distribution throughout the year.”
The strategy is to invest in hotel upgrades, improve staff wages (the Balearics now have Spain’s highest salary‑rise rate at 6.3 %), and keep high safety and service standards.
Conclusion
The “Thanks for visiting Mallorca” campaign is a friendly reminder that everyone—travelers and residents alike—plays a part in keeping the island beautiful.
By highlighting the difference between hotel growth and the explosion of short‑term rentals, FEHM hopes to steer the conversation toward smarter rules, longer stays, and a tourism model that benefits both visitors and the people who call Mallorca home.
Images Credit: www.majorcadailybulletin.com