TUI risks wrath of Majorca locals with major update for UK tourists

TUI announced that they expect to bring 2.1 million visitors to the Balearics in 2025, a new record, and up by around 100,000 compared with the 2024 data.

Majorca locals have reacted with fury after a major update from leading UK airline and travel operator TUI. On Tuesday, TUI announced that they expect to bring 2.1 million visitors to the Balearics in 2025, a new record, and up by around 100,000 compared with the 2024 data.

The tour operator believes this number could be even higher, given demand outside the high season, especially in Majorca. TUI reported that there is in fact a growing trend towards booking higher quality accommodation in the Balearics.

Germany and the UK are TUI’s two largest markets, with the 2.1 million forecast also including visitors from the likes of Austria and Switzerland, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries and Ireland. Ebel said: “This shows that people continue to prioritise their holidays, even in challenging economic environments, such as the one currently existing in Europe”.

Ebel has always blamed the problem on Airbnb and other similar platforms as he sounded the alarm over growing overtourism protests in Majorca, with increasing anti-holidaymaker sentiment noticeable across the Balearics.

Ebel said:. “These are not protests against tourism, but rather protests calling for responsible tourism that is also economically successful for local people.” In May last year, Mr Ebel said the tour operator had reached its “capacity limits” in the Balearics and was looking to other Mediterranean destinations for growth.

At the end of January this year, Ebel told Balearic tourism ministry representatives that the Balearics were becoming too expensive for certain holidaymaker segments. Families were finding it “increasingly difficult” to pay for their holidays.

Alex Casares, president of the Association for the Nautical Development of Businesses and the Self-Employed, estimates that prices had risen by as much as 30% in recent years. Mr Ebel, CEO of the TUI group said: “This shows that people continue to prioritise their holidays, even in challenging economic environments, such as the one currently existing in Europe”.