Rising costs, new tourism restrictions, and better travel deals are prompting British holidaymakers to shift their summer plans away from Spain’s Balearic Islands, favoring destinations such as Turkey, Greece, Portugal, the UAE, and Egypt.
Despite the Balearic Islands—Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera—experiencing a record-breaking number of visitors in 2024, data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute reveals a 3.2% drop in British tourists compared to the previous year.
While the total number of tourists to the Balearics reached an all-time high of 18.7 million, British visitor numbers fell from 3.69 million in 2023 to 3.57 million in 2024. The sharpest decline occurred in July, with a 10.1% year-on-year drop, raising concerns about shifting travel preferences.
In contrast, Spanish tourism numbers remained largely stable, with only a 0.2% decline. The UK, historically a major market for the Balearic Islands alongside Germany and mainland Spain, appears to be looking elsewhere for more affordable and restriction-free travel experiences.
With holidaymakers seeking better value for money and fewer limitations, the trend signals a potential long-term shift in UK travel patterns away from Spain’s traditional hotspots.
