WTM Virtual: UK 'essential' to tourism recovery, urges Balearics

During a joint briefing at WTM Virtual on Monday (9 November), representatives from Menorca, Ibiza, Majorca and Formentera gathered alongside the Balearic Islands minister of tourism to call for “access to be restored” between the destinations and the UK.

Minister of tourism Iago Negueruela told WTM attendees that in 2019 the Balearics were the second most visited region in Spain for British travellers with tourism accounting for 35% of GDP.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have focused our efforts on safety, as well as seeking agreements for regulated international tourist transit under a special health regime, to resume the flow of tourists between the United Kingdom and the Balearic Islands,” Negueruela said.

During his address he stressed the importance of bringing together the public and private sector - including businesses and trade unions – to debate ideas to allow the tourism sector to restart its activities as soon as possible, emphasising how the 2021 season will be “absolutely vital” for the local economy.

“The pandemic has not halted one of our biggest objectives; we will continue developing a tourism proposition that goes beyond the traditional sun and beach product through the defined Strategic Tourism Segments (SET) to illustrate the range of activities that visitors can enjoy when visiting our islands.”