Ibiza, one of the favorite destinations for the British, could face a reduction in the arrival of tourists from this country in 2025, according to the English media Birmingham Live.
In a recently published article, the newspaper claims that “thousands” of tourists have cancelled their vacations on the island because they consider that they are “not welcome”, alluding to the protests that took place in 2024 against the tourist overcrowding in the Balearic Islands.
However, the British media itself does not provide data to back up its claim. In fact, the only numbers cited correspond to last season and reflect a 3.2% drop in British tourism throughout the Balearic archipelago, with a more pronounced fall in July, when a 10.1% drop was recorded compared to the previous year.
A change in the preferences of British tourists
According to Birmingham Live, one of the factors that would explain the alleged fall of British tourists in Ibiza is the rise of Menorca as an alternative destination within the Balearic Islands. Based on data from the travel platform TravelSupermarket, the media highlights that searches for vacations in Menorca have increased by 341%, surpassing those of Mallorca and Ibiza.
The British report argues that Menorca attracts a tourist profile that seeks quieter beaches, charming villages and a more relaxed atmosphere, as opposed to the leisure and party offer that characterizes Ibiza. In addition, he highlights that the rise of active tourism and the demand for experiences more closely linked to nature are also playing a key role in this change in trend.
A relative decline in British tourism
Despite what was published by the British press, official data reflect that the Balearic Islands had a record year in tourism terms in 2024, with a total of 18.7 million visitors, which represented an increase of almost 900,000 tourists compared to 2023. However, although the total number of tourists increased, the growth rate was lower than in other Spanish destinations such as the Canary Islands, Catalonia or Andalusia.
As for British tourism, the figures show a decline of 3.2% for the year as a whole, a figure that could be related to various factors, including the economic situation in the United Kingdom, which is going through a period of stagnation and mild recession.
Expectations for the 2025 season
A few months before the start of the tourist season in Ibiza, it is still too early to confirm whether there will really be a significant decline in British arrivals. Definitive data on the behavior of tourism in 2025 can only be assessed after the end of the year.
