The president highlighted that the new hotel and catering agreement will mean a cumulative wage increase of 25% from 2017
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The Balearic Islands arrive at FITUR
The President of the Government, Francina Armengol, accompanied by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, and the Minister of Economic Model, Tourism and Labour, Iago Negueruela, took part in the opening day of the FITUR international tourism fair, which the Balearic Islands are attending with the aim of consolidating the national market and raising awareness of the importance of being a fully sustainable and circular destination, as well as highlighting the islands’ leadership in the transition towards the tourism model of the future.
Armengol stressed that the islands “are leading economic growth in Spain, with double the increase of the State”, in reference to the 13% growth of GDP in 2022 compared to 5.5% for the State as a whole. A leadership that the autonomous community also has in terms of “quality employment, thanks to the important and relevant approval of the labour reform”.
The president explained that the islands have experienced an “excellent season with six consecutive months of full employment”, which means that “we are strong thanks to the fact that we have been able to hold together in the face of all the difficulties and with the constant support of all public administrations, companies, workers and families”.
During the health pandemic caused by COVID-19, the domestic market has been the best behaved, and the Balearic Islands has managed not only to recover the domestic tourists lost during the pandemic but is already 13% above the records of 2019 since it will close 2022 with about 3.17 million domestic visitors.
In this line, the national tourist who visits us now is more profitable than the one we received before the pandemic. They spend more (646.7 euros during their entire stay compared to the 596 they spent in 2019), which represents an increase of 8.5%.
The forecast for the next tourist season is also good, according to Armengol, who highlighted the agreement that will be reached in the hospitality sector, with an increase in wages of 8.5% over two years and an accumulated increase of 25% since 2017, which is “the best agreement in Spain thanks to social dialogue”.
Finally, the president stressed that the islands are making progress in the implementation of the new tourism law to be the first circular destination in the world, with significant support from 245 million European funds for tourism infrastructure and investment that will enable the islands to “continue to be leaders in tourism”.
Precisely in order to boost the domestic market and air connectivity with the islands, during the days that FITUR lasts several working meetings are scheduled for the Balearic delegation with airlines such as Iberia Express, Air Europa and Ryanair, with the aim of learning first-hand about the forecasts and operations of these companies for the coming season. In addition, tomorrow the island councils of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera will present their plans for next season.