Optimism in Ibiza and Formentera over the “strong start” to the tourist season

Hotel occupancy remains at levels similar to last year, although bad weather slowed last-minute bookings during the May bank holiday, according to the manager of the Ibiza and Formentera Hotel Business Federation.

Ibiza and Formentera have kicked off the tourist season “with generally positive feelings,” although this start has also been marked by the gradual opening of establishments and some uncertainty due to the international context. Both the Confederation of Business Associations of the Balearic Islands (CAEB) and the Small and Medium Business Association of Ibiza and Formentera (PIMEEF) agreed that the start has been positive, with favorable expectations for the coming months.

In this regard, José Antonio Roselló, vice president of CAEB in Ibiza and Formentera, pointed out this Tuesday that although May 1 traditionally marks the official start of the season, this year activity has begun in a more gradual way. The fact that Easter fell later in the calendar influenced the opening schedules, meaning not all establishments were operating at the start of the season.

Even so, the assessment of the first few days is positive, both among businesses that have already opened and those planning to do so in the coming weeks. In this sense, the business association highlighted that movement is already noticeable in the streets and on the roads, a key indicator for the sector. They stressed that this increase in activity confirms that the tourism engine is beginning to operate and is doing so, generally speaking, in a favorable way.

Forecasts

Forecasts for the season as a whole are also encouraging. According to CAEB, the “overall outlook” is good, and expectations point to a solid season for the hotel industry and all sectors linked to tourism. However, they warned about external factors that could alter this scenario.

Specifically, the international geopolitical situation is causing concern among business owners. According to them, the possibility of prolonged conflicts or issues related to energy supply and rising costs is seen as a “Sword of Damocles” hanging over the season. Despite this, they insisted that, as of today, initial impressions remain positive.

For his part, Manuel Sendino, manager of the Ibiza and Formentera Hotel Business Federation (FEHIF), said that the May bank holiday period delivered acceptable results, although affected by the weather. He explained that advance bookings helped maintain good occupancy levels during the weekend and the following days, similar to last year’s figures for the same period, which reached 72%. However, he noted that bad weather prevented stronger results.

“The lack of last-minute bookings, which are usually common at this time of year, was one of the factors limiting occupancy growth,” lamented Sendino.

It should be remembered that the 2025 season ended with an average tourist occupancy rate of 82%.

Meanwhile, Alfonso Rojo, president of PIMEEF Ibiza, also positively assessed the start of the season, highlighting the effort made by many businesses that started operating before Easter. “It has been a gradual start, with many colleagues making a significant effort to get everything ready beforehand,” said Rojo, recalling that although the calendar marks May 1 as the official start, the reality for many businesses is more complex, as many companies have already been operating for weeks.

However, he also acknowledged that not all businesses can afford to open from day one. During Easter, approximately 65% of restaurants and shops were open, according to business association estimates, which already allowed them to gauge the start of the season. Since then, activity has continued to grow progressively.

In this regard, he explained that around 70% of businesses in Ibiza and Formentera operate exclusively during the tourist season, and many establishments choose to wait until late April or early May, coinciding with increased demand and the start of major events and nightlife openings.

External factors

Despite the positive outlook, PIMEEF also shared concerns about factors such as inflation and rising costs, although for now they remain cautious.

“There is nothing telling us this will be a bad season,” admitted Rojo, emphasizing that the sector is prepared to face the summer.

The start of the tourist season in Ibiza and Formentera leaves a positive balance overall, with a gradual but solid start and expectations of growth. However, as business associations pointed out, the evolution of the coming months will depend on external factors that continue to keep the sector alert.

Source: periodicodeibiza.es

Source: periodicodeibiza.es