There is a lot of excitement and confidence in Fitur. Unless covid plays a trick again (as it did with omicron), business people and politicians from Ibiza and Formentera are confident that the 2022 season will begin in April, not July, as it did before the pandemic, and will reach cruising speed in May. They claim that it will not be as bad as it was in 2019, but it will be extremely close. “This year we bet to start normally, in April,” says Vicent Marí, president of the Consell and head of Ibiza’s Tourism Department. “The industry is ready to launch and experience a more normalized season.” The sporting activities scheduled for that month will serve as a starting point.
Marí believes that the Spanish market “will be essential” in 2021: “That’s why we’re still betting on it.” We also have excellent connectivity with Spanish airports and via sea.” He is equally optimistic about the British market’s recovery: “Bookings from the UK are returning.” I am confident that if all limitations are lifted, we will regain a significant portion of British tourism, which is highly loyal to the island and eager to visit. This is what we are told by agencies, hoteliers, and tour operators. We are really enthusiastic and encouraged.” “Tour operators and airlines inform us that they are scheduling as they did before the outbreak,” Marí adds. They are scheduling, but we must wait to see how full the planes are. It was similar last year, but flight occupancy was 30% lower in 2019.”
He also hopes that businesses that did not begin in 2021 be encouraged to do so in 2022: “30% of the plant was shut down. There is still much work to be done. Depending on demand, it will be a progressive opening. It is too early to predict whether or not the facility will be fully operational. I am convinced that it will, because many workers have not yet been able to return to work.”
Will Ibiza return to normalcy?
Rosana Morillo, the General Director of Tourism for the Balearic Islands, believes that the season will return to normal: “I am certain that this year’s season will start earlier and will be more like a typical one. These are also the predictions of tour operators and airlines. All indicators point to a solid start in May.” The wind appears to be blowing from the stern, as Morillo also mentions that “British bookings have been picking up for the last 10 days, they have gotten really lively.” However, he offers the following observation: “You must consider cancellation policies. It’s one thing to make a reservation; it’s quite another to make it a reality. However, the booking trend is really positive.”
When Juan Miguel Costa, the island director of Ibiza Tourism, looks at the calendar, he sees everything much clearer than in 2021: “We are working with the notion of opening the season in April with sporting contests.” But we have the added benefit of Easter falling so late in April this year, so close to the actual start of the season on May 1.” He also believes that by April, there will be a “favorable health situation.” When the season begins, he says, will determine whether or not 100% of the plant opens, which he hopes will be complete.
In terms of the British market, “it will be the year of its resumption. However, it will not reach 2019 levels until 2023, but there will be a big increase.” In this regard, he notes that prior to Omicron, “the volume of bookings in the UK market was larger than what we had in 2019.” He believes that once the caseload is reduced, Ibiza will “recover that booking inertia.” There are encouraging indicators from there. Places on flights that have been scheduled and published for sale are likewise more plentiful than in 2019. According to Costa, “it is highly indicative.”
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