Mallorca - something to look forward to in 2012?

After what has been a good year for tourism in Mallorca, 2012 looks set to be an even better one according to research from the World Travel Market.

Figures released during the World Travel Market in London last month highlighted that the number of UK visitors to Spain had increased by 9pc between January and September 2011. Meanwhile, these figures also identified the Balearics as the top tourist destination with 24pc of the 11 million British visitors travelling to Spain during the first 9 months of this year.

And the good news looks set to continue into 2012 with further reports from the World Travel Market showing that summer bookings are already up for next year as tour operators plan more flights to the Balearics, with a particular focus on Mallorca.

Indeed, nearly a fifth of all passengers arriving on low-cost airlines in Spain fly into Palma de Mallorca. In October this year, Palma received the highest number of passengers on low cost airlines reaching nearly 610,000 - four-fifths of the total arrivals to the Balearics and nearly 15pc more people than the same month last year while also in October, nearly 90pc of arrivals flying in via traditional airlines to the Balearic Islands landed at Palma airport.

With this in mind, it is hardly surprising that tour operators and airlines are promising more flights next year to satisfy growing demand with Ryanair announcing the opening of its 49th European base at Palma airport next year. Opening in March 2012, the budget airline will have four aircrafts based at the airport operating 47 routes; 17 of which are new and include flights from Palma to Cork, Maastricht and Stockholm.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España, comments,

"We are happy that the no-frills airline has estimated that it will fly around 2.8 million passengers annually and maintain 2,800 jobs - in the face of economic doom and gloom people want to get away and providing more flight options is a great way to satisfy growing demand. Indeed, with more tourist arrivals next year, the Mallorcan property market looks set for a boost. We are certainly expecting sales levels to be in line with this year particularly as we will have more sales outlets and new developments for property buyers to get their hands on in 2012."