Bartolome Bestard, Alcudia´s port director and president of the Balearic marinas association, ANADE has recently stated that the traffic through the ´leisure ports´ of the Balearics has fallen between 15 and 20% compared with last year. These figures have been echoed by the local Maritime Safety organisation.
Bestard said that the main decrease has been seen in the UK and German markets as the general perception of the Balearics is that in the Summer all the marinas are full and so these yachtsmen have chosen other places in the Mediterranean to moor.
Bestard blames a lack of promotion in the past years because of the fact that the marinas were full and even overflowing.
He believes that his organisation must put pressure upon the authorities to return to promoting the nautical business of the Baleares through such actions as participation at various international boat shows.
He adds that the moratorium the building of new and extensions of current marinas by past political administrations have added to the problems.
He also wished to remind all concerned that yachtsmen and women are above average spenders and therefore very important to the local economy.