Tourism chiefs in Palma are hopeful that some travel will resume by August this year – and hope that efforts to promote the Majorcan region as a year-round destination will result in more visitors in the autumn and winter seasons.
Palma Tourism Board manager Pedro Homar said that restrictions were likely to be lifted first for local and domestic travellers, with hopes for a return of international travel later in the year and in to 2021.
In an article published on travelweekly.co.uk, Homar said: “Our hope is that in August we can receive our first wave of tourists. We will start with the local and domestic market which will help provide a lifeline to some of the tourism and hospitality businesses.
“We are working through the different measures that the ‘new normal’ will include; looking at ways to create safe distances between people, as well as safety and hygiene protocols. The sector needs to be as prepared as possible.”
He added: “It’s worth highlighting that even before the global pandemic, we were looking at measures to reduce crowds in the city and better manage the flow of tourists with heat sensors and a new app to redirect visitors to lesser-crowded areas.
“The focus is to ensure that Palma is a sustainable tourism destination that can be enjoyed for many years to come.”
Homar said the UK market was the second-largest to Palma, after Germany, and said public and private sector organisations had worked on a promotional plan to drive a return of traffic when restrictions are lifted.
He added: “Our British visitors and residents are an important part of our city’s cosmopolitan identity and for many years we have received strong support from the British tourism industry.
“We learn a great deal from our visitors and we look forward to opening our arms to British tourists as soon as restrictions are lifted and travel between the two countries is permitted.”