A Million Tourists Go Missing

Just losing visitors during a recession is understandable - losing a million of them in one year when a good part of your economy relies on tourism could be construed as careless. Figures just released in Spain show it is the British who have stopped visiting Spain in the numbers they used to in recent decades, and there's not a lot of chance of the visitors returning in 2009.
A double combination of the recession in the UK and people worried about losing their jobs has combined with the British currency, sterling, dropping in value significantly against the Euro, making a trip to Spain more expensive at a time when family finances are being watched more closely than normal. British tourists have been discovering Egypt and Turkey have their own currencies, and holidays to both destinations are cheaper than countries who have the Euro.
The danger for holiday destinations in Spain like Menorca is that holidaymakers who like the island and return year after year go elsewhere while their home economy isn't performing too well - and like that new destination enough to forget about future holidays in Menorca.
Menorca has already seen tourist numbers drop in 2008 by close to ten per cent, and a further drop which is almost inevitable this year could see some tourist businesses go under. Menorca is known as a quiet island - but locals don't want it to become too quiet!
The hope for Menorca and other destinations in a similar position which see a lot of British holidaymakers and have the Euro, is that the pound recovers her strength soon. The chances of the British voting to join the Euro are small, the last opinion polls showed 78 per cent of the population would vote against joining - and given the state of the British economy Eurozone members might not want Britain in anyway.
As well as holidaymakers, Menorca like many parts of Spain does have quite a few British people move to the island - the Menorca weather is great of course but the way of life is pretty healthy too.
Lower incidences of heart disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the Mediterranean are believed to be due to the diet. The Menorcan lifestyle is generally more active than other parts of the world, resulting in lower death rates as well as lower obesity rates. In fact, Menorca is home to several citizens who are over a hundred years old.
Menorca offers a wide array of outdoor activities including horse riding, cycling and golf for those who like active lifestyles, and due to the year round mild climate, golf is popular in Menorca both for those who live their and for those on their holidays in Menorca. Club Son Parc is a large resort featuring an eighteen hole golf course.
Two well known Menorca villages for holidaymakers might be quiet this year - Binibeca Village is a beautiful resort consisting of Cala Torret in the east and Binebeca Vell to the west. The village consists of all low rise apartments and villas and has no high rise hotels. The area around Binibeca has a variety of high quality bars, restaurants and shops.
Son Bou is home to the largest and, for many visitors, the best beach on Menorca, accessible via a tunnel down the road from Alaior. Son Bou has two hotels at the eastern end. With just under two kilometers of beach bars, there is no shortage of opportunity for fun. Son Bou has the only naturist beach on Menorca, the further you walk, the more clothing is optional. It is perhaps not the best place for a family holiday, but an ideal spot for couples or groups of friends. It's known as the quiet island, but Menorca will be hoping she remains quiet - not silent - for summer 2009.

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