| ry is traditionally the month when most British people | | | | as well as cutting down on waste. Majorca has for |
| book their holidays, but quite how many have done | | | | example opened up quite a few miles of cycle |
| so for this year won't be known for a while yet. | | | | tracks, and local businesses have responded with |
| With the economy in both the US and Europe in | | | | cycle hire shops dotted around the island. |
| recession, holiday destinations are bracing themselves | | | | The challenge for Majorca this year is not how best |
| for a dismal summer, as many tourists decide to | | | | to respond to global warming, or to offset |
| have a holiday in their own country - or skip holidays | | | | holidaymakers co2 emissions from their flights to |
| altogether for 2009. | | | | Majorca, but simply to get the tourists to visit at all. |
| Areas that traditionally see a high percentage of their | | | | Majorca's position as Europe's number one holiday |
| visitors come from the UK could be particularly hard | | | | destination is under threat from Turkey, and further |
| hit, as the British pound has sunk to a new low level | | | | afield Egypt will be taking holidaymakers away too - |
| against the Euro, and isn't doing too well against the | | | | neither Turkey or Egypt use the Euro for their |
| US dollar either. | | | | currency, while Majorca does. The British pound has |
| Some early suggestions are that Cyprus might lose | | | | fallen dramatically against the Euro making holidays in |
| up to 20 per cent of her British tourists this year, and | | | | Majorca more expensive for British tourists, while |
| there are plenty of other holiday islands in Europe | | | | Egypt and Turkey with their own currencies work |
| which will be watching Britain's currency closely in the | | | | out better value for Brits abroad. |
| coming months, hoping that it will rise and holiday | | | | But Majorca has seen competitors before who have |
| bookings to those areas with the Euro pick up. | | | | taken away market share from the holidays island, |
| But the Spanish holiday island of Majorca isn't taking | | | | only to see her popularity return. Florida for example |
| things lying down, and 2009 could see holidays in | | | | became very much in vogue for a while, but the |
| Majorca be more popular than any other area of | | | | weather in Majorca seemed to pull tourists back |
| Spain again, despite her British visitors getting far less | | | | after a few years. But while the Majorca weather |
| of the local currency than on previous visits to the | | | | can be relied on, what can beat the volatility of the |
| island. | | | | currency markets to attract holidaymakers for 2009? |
| Majorca has an astonishing hundred years and more | | | | The answer it seems is the return of the package |
| tourism experience, and has survived in that time | | | | holiday. Many in the travel industry had predicted the |
| two world wars, the Spanish Civil War, fascist | | | | end of package holidays - where a holiday includes |
| dictatorship as well as town planners to emerge as a | | | | flights, hotel, breakfast and an evening meal (half |
| holiday island capable of catering for both the cheap | | | | board) or lunch too (half board) - due to the ability to |
| getaway to the sun, but also the luxury holidays | | | | book different components of a holiday online, but |
| market in villages like Deia, and has responded well to | | | | for British holidaymakers booking a package holiday |
| for the increasing concern from many tourists for the | | | | with companies like Thomas Cook cuts the amount |
| environment. | | | | of spending money they need in Majorca dramatically |
| Villa Holiday In Majorca | | | | - and makes a holiday in Majorca for 2009 possible. |
| Part of that change for the environment has been | | | | Majorca it seems is the little island that comes |
| responding to what British and German visitors want, | | | | packaged up for 2009 holidays! |