Mallorca Bulletin
Is Mallorca missing the opportunity to become a true yearround destination?
s Mallorca looks ahead to the 2026 tourism season, the island finds itself at a crossroads. On paper, the past three years have been a success: visitor numbers have surged since 2023, summer occupancy has remained high, and Mallorca continues to rank...
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Trump’s smash and grab, says Spain
Madrid.—Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the United States had set a “terrible and very dangerous precedent” in Venezuela with its raid on Nicolas Maduro, adding that Washington’s sole objective appeared to be the change of government and...
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Dream of a white Christmas could become a reality
Palma.—The odds on Mallorca enjoying a white Christmas have been slashed after snow fell in mountain areas on Monday and yesterday. The Met Office says that the weather will remain unsettled over the festive period with relatively low temperatures. It...
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BIG SPAIN FINE
Madrid.—Spain has fined vacation rental firm Airbnb 64 million euros for advertising unlicensed tourist rental homes, the Consumer Rights Ministry said, as the government cracks down on excessive tourism that is driving up housing costs. Spain’s...
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UP IN SMOKE
Palma.—It could be last orders for smoking on bar and restaurant terraces in Spain as the Spanish government has approved a bill which outlaws tobacco in many new areas. It could be the end of the line for many smokers. Until now, bar and restaurant...
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SPANISH PORK IS BACK ON THE MENU
London.—Britain said this week it would allow pork imports from parts of Spain unaffected by African swine fever (ASF), reversing a blanket ban imposed last week after the country reported its first cases of the disease in more than three decades. The...
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End of the paper trail
Palma.—The days of expats having to take an endless number of documents and photocopies to the Foreigners’ Office in Palma could be numbered thanks to an overhaul of the whole process, which should be completed by the New Year. Spain plans to...
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SPAIN’S BOOMING ECONOMY
Madrid.— The Spanish economy is expected to grow 2.9% this year, at more than double the average pace in the European Union and exceeding the previous forecasts of 2.6-2.7%, the European Commission and the Spanish government said. The EU’s executive...
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Carp, Nou Llevant by the motorway Saturday, 8 to Sunday 23 November
Tuesday, November 11; 7.30am; Palma Cathedral; Free. Saturday, November 8; 7pm; Trui Theatre, Cami Son Rapinya 29, Palma; 35 euros; truiteatre.es.
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THE WORLD IS MALLORCA’S OYSTER
Palma.—Mallorca-based airline Air Europa is exploring the possibility of operating direct flights to South Africa from Spain with air links to Mallorca, as Palma Airport pushes its boundaries outside Europe. Air Canada have announced direct flights to...
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Steven Spielberg yacht cruises around Mallorca
Palma.—Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg’s mega superyacht Seven Seas I is cruising in Mallorca. This week she was anchored off Puerto Portals. It is not clear if the Jaws director is on board. The yacht is named in honour of his children. He sold the...
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Don’t break the luggage rules, Spain told by European Union
Madrid.—The European Commission says fines imposed by Spain on Ireland’s Ryanair and other budget airlines for charging extra fees on cabin bags breach regulations. The Spanish Consumer Affairs Ministry last year fined Ryanair, easyJet, Norwegian,...
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5,000 U.S. sailors and 400 British travel agents set for Magalluf
Palma.—Magalluf is set for a fantastic end to the summer season with thousands of visitors heading to the resort this weekend. Not only is Magalluf hosting the annual convention of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) next week but the 5,000...
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BEACH WEATHER IN SEPTEMBER
The summer shows no sign of going away and it was beach weather in Magalluf this week.
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Drew Aaron buys historic Mallorca estate
ONE of Mallorca’s finest and most historic possessions has been purchased by island-based U.S. businessman Drew Aaron. The estate, which dates from the 12th century, is situated on top of the hills overlooking the town of Valldemossa. S’Atalaya was...
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TIME TO QUIT?
Madrid.—Spain’s minority leftist government introduced a bill this week to ban smoking at outdoor venues including beaches, bar and restaurant terraces, bus stops and stadiums. The ban would also apply to vapes or e-cigarettes, which are increasingly...
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BRITAIN AND SPAIN WELCOME NEW ERA
London.—The leaders of Spain and Britain met this week in London to sign a cooperation deal that aims to strengthen post-Brexit ties between the two countries. It follows a recent agreement over Gibraltar, the contested territory at the tip of the...
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MALLORCA SAVED FROM FLIGHT CULL
Palma.—Ryanair is set to cut almost a million seats from Spain’s regional airports this winter – but the Balearic Islands, along with Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and the Canaries, will see extra capacity. Chief executive Eddie Wilson said the details of...
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MALLORCA IMMIGRATION EMERGENCY
Palma.—The Balearics is facing an immigration crisis with small boat arrivals this year up by 50 percent and the situation is becoming fatal. Yesterday, the Guardia Civil and the Maritime Safety Agency continued an intensive search for three people...
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ALL ABOARD
The classic yacht sailing regatta is taking place at the Club de Mar in Palma attracting some of the leading classic sailing yachts, including one which is skippered by leading British comedian and writer Griff Rhys Jones. A total of 40 boats are...
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BILLIONAIRE LOVE BOAT OFF SOLLER
Palma.—Jeff Bezos and his new wife Lauren Sanchez are enjoying a luxury cruise around the Balearics aboard the world´s biggest sailing yacht, Koru. Yesterday it was moored off Soller with its very own support vessel moored nearby. Earlier this week the...
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MALLORCA STEWS OVER FISH
Palma.—Annette Cristensen remains housebound and receives regular treatment for wounds to her leg after she was bitten by a fish while swimming in Calvia. The attack took place four weeks ago and comes after an Italian tourist was also bitten in Playa...
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WE TOURISTS
Mallorca Hoteliers Federation (FEHM) launched a campaign this week aimed at the millions of tourists who visit the Balearics every year to thank them for their loyalty and invite them to return to the islands, as well as to highlight the importance of...
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INSIDE
Your full What’s On Guide of events in Mallorca. Your full seven-day Mallorca weather forecast. Local restaurant tips and much more. News, views and plenty more all inside this week.
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Happy holidays Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas, who has owned a home in Mallorca for many years, is enjoying a Spanish holiday. He visited the Sant Joan festivities in Minorca and is enjoying the north of Spain. He is expected in his beloved Mallorca later this summer, staying at...
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DON´T FORGET YOUR UMBRELLA IN MALLORCA!
Palma.—When you are heading out in Mallorca don’t forget to pack your sunscreen and your umbrella! On Sunday at the opening of the new Magalluf promenade hotel staff handed out umbrellas to many guests so that they could beat the heat. Temperatures...
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SUPERYACHT PARADISE
Palma.—Some of the world’s leading superyachts are in Mallorcan waters at the moment. In the Bay of Palma yesterday morning was the Wayfinder owned by Bill Gates alongside the superyacht Viva, owned by billionaire, Frank Fertitta. Off the coast of...
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Affordable Housing Can’t Wait
he season is underway, and the work is intense. The rumbles under the surface continue and erupt into news. The articulate young of Soller penned a message from their perspective, which was spot on. Whatever the reasons for the decisions of the past it...
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HOLIDAY WARNING
Alcudia.—The Alcudia and Can Picafort Hoteliers Association sounded the alarm this week when they indicated that bookings were marginally down on last year especially from Germany, their principal market. In a communiqué the hoteliers said that bar...
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SUMMER TIME
Palma—Mallorca is facing a significant rise in temperatures over the next few days. Jorge Rodríguez, deputy spokesperson for the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) in the Balearic Islands, explains that maximum temperatures will be between 7 and 8ºC...
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TOM CRUISE GIVES A HELPING HAND TO MALLORCA
Palma.—When Tom Cruise took a dip in Cala Formentor last year he probably didn’t realise that thousands of people would follow in his footsteps. Ever since photos of the Hollywood mega-star were published across the globe splashing out on Formentor...
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Abbey Clancy jets into Mallorca for fashion shoot
British super model, Abbey Clancy, was in Mallorca this week for a fashion shoot in Soller. She usually spends much of the summer on the island with her husband, former England football international Peter Crouch, and other members of her family....
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Saturday, 10th May, from 10am to 10pm
Sunday, May 11; 9pm; Palma Auditorium, Paseo Marítimo 18; 40-47 euros; auditoriumpalma.com. Saturday, 10 May; 8.30pm; Museu Chopin i Sand, Charterhouse, Valldemossa; 20 euros; pianino.es / [email protected].
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TV STARS SHINE FOR MALLORCA
Netflix star on the island for new exhibition launch at Palma art gallery.
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PARTY AND WIN
Alcaraz has lifted the lid on his secret for winning his first Wimbledon title in 2023 and defending the title a year later - partying hard in Ibiza. In a new Netflix documentary, “Carlos Alcaraz: My Way”, the Spaniard describes how he went against...
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SPAIN LOOKS EAST
Madrid.—Spain will pursue closer trade ties with China in the interests of its citizens and of the EU, its agriculture minister Luis Planas said, rejecting a U.S. warning that moving closer to the Asian country would be “cutting your own throat”. “We...
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When Rafa met British star in Mallorca
Harry Potter and White Lotus star, Jason Isaacs, is a big fan of Rafa Nadal and he met up with his tennis hero during a visit to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor. Isaacs was on the island staying in Formentor. Photo: Instagram: (rafanadalacademy).
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ALL ABOARD
Palma.—The superyacht Hampshire II, belonging to British billionaire and Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, off Palmanova this week, as the island gets set for the start of the holiday season. Superyachts have started to appear in Balearic...
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TROUBLE IN PARADISE
Articles which have appeared on our website this week. www.majorcadailybulletin.com. “It has become a moneymaking tourist trap. Overpriced tat, overpriced food and drink. Surly waiters, you name it.” See Letters: Page 30
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MALLORCA HOTEL GIANT BUYS HOUSING FOR STAFF
who can’t afford to rent in tourism hot spots as a housing crisis risks causing labour shortages in the country’s tourism industry:
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DONALD DUCKS CRITICISM AS SPAIN TRUMPS UNITED STATES
Palma.—There has been a 200 percent rise in applications for Golden Visas in Spain from U.S. citizens with Spain set to phase out the residence for investment scheme next month. Reports suggested that there had been a “sudden scramble” from the U.S. as...
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BUYING AN EGG COULD BREAK THE BANK
price of eggs will soar in Spain if exports to the United States are confirmed, with the president of the Association of Food and Drink Distributors of the Balearic Islands, Bartolomé Servera, warning: “We could end up paying one euro per egg.” The US...
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COME AND VISIT US
Palma.—The Mayor of Porreras, Francisca Mora Veny, has officially invited Meghan Markle to visit Porreras and see for herself its beauty and obviously its centuries old coat of arms which is proving to be slightly controversial. Earlier this week,...
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TWO MILLION TOURISTS “DISAPPEARED” IN 2024
estimated two million tourists went “missing” in the Balearics last year because they didn't stay in either hotels or holiday apartments. So where did they stay? One of the reasons put forward is that they all stayed with friends but hoteliers suspect...
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LESS WORK, SAME MONEY
Madrid.—Spanish ministers agreed this week to cut the legal working week to 37.5 hours with no change in salary, forging ahead with one of the coalition government's flagship measures despite opposition from employers' associations. During its weekly...
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SPANISH MIRACLE
Madrid.— Spain’s economy expanded 3.2% in 2024, outstripping official forecasts and far outperforming its euro zone peers, preliminary data from the National Statistics Institute showed this week. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said this week the...
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Drones set to patrol Magalluf this summer
Calvia.—The Calvia council has taken policing in Magalluf this summer to a new level with the announcement that a specialist police drone unit will be on duty during the peak summer months. The move is part of an enhanced policing plan for Magalluf...
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LITTLE CHANCE OF NEW PROPERTY TAX GETTING THE GREEN LIGHT
Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, announced this week that his government was proposing slapping a 100 percent tax on the sale of Spanish homes to non-residents from outside the European Union. British buyers, who are still the biggest purchasers of...
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SPAIN PM TO MUSK: YOU ARE TRYING TO UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has this week attacked billionaire Elon Musk for interfering in European politics, accusing him of undermining democracy. “The international far-right that we have been opposing in Spain for years, led in this case by the...
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A ROCK SOLID INVESTMENT
is a before and after in the housing market that is frequently referred to in the Balearics - the property bubble that preceded the financial crisis and what came afterwards. House prices had soared, but the crisis led to them tumbling. It was a...
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MALLORCA IS TOP HOTSPOT IN UK FOR 2025
MILLIONS of people in the UK will now start thinking about planning their summer holiday. Traditionally, the next month is a crucial period for the UK booking market, when the industry gets its first indication with regard to which destinations are...
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BRITS FACE EU ENTRY DELAY
UNCERTAINTY remains about the phased rollout of the European Commission’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which will replace traditional passport checks at EU borders. Initially set for a November launch, the system’s debut was postponed due to concerns about...
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Why are the young people leaving?
Soller, the ‘Island within an island' is moving into the corporate zone to the disquiet of many Sollerics. The arrival of the Jumeriah in 2010 into the locally owned hotel zone of the Soller Valley was a game changer. Now, out of 36 hotels in the local...
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FESTIVE FUN
The festive season has arrived at Son Amar with their Christmas Wonderland, a fantastic event for the whole family.
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Gibraltar.—A Royal Navy nuclear submarine dived into controversy after it arrived in Gibraltar over the weekend. Spanish environmental groups demanded that the vessel leave at once over fears about its nuclear power. HMS Astute is one of Britain’s...
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U.S. FOR MALLORCA
Former U.S. president, Barack Obama, drops into Mallorca for a round of golf at Son Gual. Superyacht owned by Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos makes quite a sight in the Bay of Palma. U.S. tourists give Mallorca their full backing over “green” policies.
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CALM AFTER THE STORM
MALLORCA BATTERED BY HEAVY RAINS, MAINLAND STILL SUFFERING: SEE PAGES 4, 5 AND 6
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BRITAIN BACKS THE MALLORCA PLEDGE
T“One tourist, one friend”. HIS year’s World Travel Market in London drew to a glamorous close on Wednesday night with a gala ‘Mallorca En Esencia’ dinner hosted by the Council of Mallorca at the spectacular Wallace Collection Museum in central...
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Spanish government gives green light for Mallorca airport rail link
Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Balearics, Marga Prohens, have agreed to begin work between technicians from both administrations for a new agreement on state investment in railways on the islands, which would include...
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One in five British adults considering moving abroad, says report
Palma.—A new survey from Currencies Direct has revealed that 23 percent of UK adults are considering a life abroad in the next five years. Younger generations in particular are driving this trend, with 38 percent of those aged 25 to 34 and 36 percent...
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A TOURIST, A FRIEND
“We welcome all tourists with open arms” is the message that the Mayor of Calvia, Juan Antonio Amengual, and his team will be taking to London next month for the all important World Travel Market tourism trade fair. “There is no place for so-called...
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ABTA IS BACK IN MALLORCA AGAIN
Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) will be holding their annual convention in Magalluf next October after an absence of 14 years. Hundreds of British delegates will be attending from across the UK travel industry. Golden opportunity for...
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PRIVATE JET BAN
Palma.—Next time that Tom Cruise flies into Mallorca he won’t be able to use his private jet if Greenpeace have their way. They are calling for a complete ban on private jets at Palma airport. In a statement the group said that private jets produce ten...
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LOCAL ECONOMY FEELS THE PINCH
more evidence of a worrying economic situation in the Balearics with a report from business leaders which indicates that the local economy is showing signs of “fatigue” with growth below the national average in the all important second quarter. The...
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