During the month of June, 349,538 travelers stayed in Pitiusan hotels, triple the numbers from a year ago and 3.7% more than in 2019, before the health crisis began. The number of visitors has grown slightly despite the fact that our main market, British tourists, has been unable to fully recover (perhaps due to bureaucratic obstacles) and has experienced a drop of 28.5% compared to three years ago: back then 132,042 British tourists landed on the islands, however, in June almost 38,000 fewer arrived, according to the latest data from Ibestat.
The British remain the main market, but not as much as before. The Pitiusas depend less and less on the British tourist and, thanks to diversification, are receiving other nationalities to compensate for this significant decline. Not all eggs are now in the same basket: for example, 60,760 travelers from Spain stayed in Pitiusan hotels, 41.3% more than in 2019; also opting on these islands 42,023 Italians, up 17.4%, 34,720 Germans (9.3%), and almost 20,000 Dutch (23.4%).
The growth of French tourism is striking, no less than 138.7%: three seasons ago 8,749 French tourists stayed in regulated establishments on the islands, while this year almost 21,000 did so in June. The Swiss also continue to rise (5,671, up 44%).
Sant Joan has become a new German favourite. In that municipality, tourists arriving from Germany (4,985) have increased by 137% in three years
At least until now and perhaps as a consequence of the crisis unleashed by the covid, there are several changes in the distribution of nationalities by municipalities. In Formentera, for example, Spaniards (9,138) staying in hotels were in the majority and overtook Italians (8,704), who until 2019 were the main outbound market for the island. Travelers from Spain (9,134, 73% over 2019) also moved from fourth to second place in Sant Josep, where they overtook Germans (7,786; which was the second nationality three years ago) and Italians (8,052), now in third position. And Sant Joan has become a new German favourite. In this municipality, tourists arriving from Germany (4,985) have increased by 137% in three years, a nationality that has become the main issuer, above the British (3,585, -11.5%), which previously dominated this territory. Precisely, in neighboring Santa Eulària the number of Germans fell (7,799 stayed there in total, almost 600 less than three years ago), which were surpassed by the Spanish (9,283, 68.3), second in that ranking.
More British tourists in Vila than before
The only municipality where there are more British tourists than before the spread of the coronavirus is Vila. In June, 11,041 travelers from the United Kingdom chose their accommodations, 39% more than in 2019, although they remain in third position, behind Spaniards (18,163) and Italians (13,171). In the rest of the municipalities, British tourists decreased, although they remain in the majority, except in Sant Joan: they fell by 32.7% in Sant Josep, 29.6% in Sant Antoni, 11.5% in Sant Joan, and 32.8% in Santa Eulària. Another striking fact is how the French market is recovering in each municipality: 97% more in Vila (where they spent the most nights), 58.6% in Sant Josep, 338% in Sant Antoni, 177% in Sant Joan and 222% in Santa Eulària.
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