Statistics published by the Tourist Board and AENA last week showed the stark truth of the decline of tourism on the island. In just ten years the number of foreign tourists arriving by plane has fallen by 394,495. In 2000 the total was 929,774 (which rose the following year to 938,182) but by last year this had dropped to 535,279, the lowest figure since the early 1990's.
Between 2001 and 2004 the decline was steady with figures falling by around 50,000 per year. From 2004 to 2005 the drop was more pronounced at around 72,000. Foreign tourism continued to decline in 2006, but not so markedly, with 20,619 fewer choosing the island for their holidays. The following year the statistics showed a drop of over 55,000 and in 2009 this increased to 69,639.
The most important market for the island, the U.K., has seen numbers drop from 650,082 in 2000 to 391,898 ten years later while the number of German tourists over the same period fell from 166,114 to 47,693. Although the number of Dutch, Italian and Swedish holidaymakers actually increased over the decade, the difference of just over 11,000 did little to compensate for the failure of the island's two main markets.
Promoting the island
The Fundació Destí has been promoting the island at two holiday trade fairs, the "Holiday World Show" in Prague and the "Salon des Vacances" in Brussels.
Following a collaboration agreement, the Czech market will also be targeted by the tour operator Fischer in an attempt to attract more tourists, especially during the low seasons. During March and April, leaflets will be inserted in newspapers, articles placed in holiday magazines and there will also be a mailshot.
Horse trekking Holidays
The foundation is also hoping to have the first horse trekking route ready this summer, as part of the new holiday programme, Equustur, which will receive funds from the European Union and includes eleven destinations in Spain, France and Portugal. The pilot route will be designed on the advice of an outside company and in accordance with the opinions of farmers, establishments offering rural accommodation and travel agents.
According to the Councillor for Tourism, Lázaro Criado, the first phase of the project, the compilation of current legislation regarding tourism and nature, has already been completed and the next stage, designing the itinerary, will begin this month.
Based on a week's holiday, the route will incorporate public lanes, including the Camí de Cavalls, on the north and south coasts. Once concluded there will be a trial run to ensure that it is satisfactory before it is put on the market.