As Majorca becomes less and less budget-friendly, the island risks driving droves of tourists away with its ever-increasing prices. Once considered a cheap holiday destination during the 1970s and 80s, Majorca is now most definitely paying the price for its success.
Public transport is widely considered a relatively affordable approach to getting around and remains cheaper than forking out for the luxury of a taxi. However, this once inexpensive mode of travel has soared in Majorca over the past five years. The price of coach travel on the Balearics has soared by an eye-watering 30% since 2020.
Although costs are going up globally, Majorca has seen prices rise more than mainland Spain, according to the manager of the Regional Transport Federation, Petra Mut.
Mr Mut points to Majorca’s being an island as to why the increases are higher than on the mainland: there is a limited supply, and there can also be delays in receiving parts.
Over the last five years, coach operators have been battling shortages of raw materials and electronic components, as well as increases in the cost of vehicle inspections. Road tax in Majorca has soared by 20% in just two years.
The annual operating cost of a coach in Spain as a whole has risen from £96 to £114 in just five years, while a new coach can cost up to £253.
Regional Transport Federation says the price of coach tyres has increased from £250 to £421, while batteries have risen from £210 to a minimum of £337. Meanwhile, a complete pack of brake pads and discs has gone from £632 to £927.
Last week, in a letter to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, Edward Fox said that not only is the island ” non-tourist-friendly,” but it has also become drastically more expensive over the past five to six years.
Mr Fox said the increasingly high prices mean Majorca “is not affordable now for most Brits,” and as a result, many holidaymakers are looking at alternative options, including Thailand and Vietnam. The possible loss in business to the island ultimately means they will lose out to “Southeast Asian countries.”