The Balearic islands have 8 of the 10 top tourist spots in Spain, according to hotel occupancy rate, and 5 of those are in Mallorca. Llucmajor is the national leader, but the list also includes Muro, Alcudia, Santa Margalida and Son Servera.
The Balearics receive around 13.5 million tourists every year, and Mallorca has an impressive average hotel occupancy rate of 90%. Not only that, but hotels on the island are very profitable. A recent study shows that room prices in Mallorca are an average 17% more expensive than in the rest of Spain, and they are still full.
This is a huge triumph for the island's hoteliers, who are opposing the new left-wing Balearic Government's proposal of an ecotax to be paid by visitors per hotel room. They believe that the money would not be spent on the tourist industry and that it will lower profits.
However, Mallorca's success does not seem to be dropping any time soon. A survey by bank BBVA has analysed tourist spending in Spain during July and August 2014. The Balearics are once again at the top of the list with a 14% of the total amount, only behind Barcelona. The islands lead foreign spending, coming mainly from French, British, German, Dutch and Russian tourists. Most of these visitors spend their money on fashion, although those coming from the UK and US prefer to use it for eating and drinking.
An interactive map with the results of the survey can be found here.
