Mallorca - worth every visit, a little journey into the island's past.
Have you ever wondered how and when Mallorca became one of the most popular travel destinations?
Join us on a little journey into the past.
Around 1900, Palma Cathedral established itself as an interesting travel magnet and even then attracted many tourists from all over the world. More and more interest was also aroused in Pollenca and Cala Ratjada, where the first hotels on the island opened.
The beginning of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) interrupted this development. Visitor numbers did not pick up again until the 1950s and 1960s. The reasons: The Second World War had brought about significant advances in aviation technology and, for the first time, northern Europeans were entitled to regular holidays.
In Germany, for example, many people saw it as beneficial to their health to spend their holidays in the sun. Instead of going to the south of Germany, they began to travel more to Mallorca. The number of tour operators grew, and the German companies Dr. Tigges and later Neckermann were considered the pioneers of package holidays. They began to invest in the construction of hotels themselves, because Spain was poor.
The result was a building boom on the previously agricultural island in the 1960s. At that time, the hotels were rather plain. Guests were not used to holidays and did not expect much. A buffet, a room, the beach nearby - they were satisfied with that.
At that time, Palma's center was largely spared the crowds. Especially the Playa de Palma, but also Calvià and Alcúdia were in great demand at the beginning of the tourism boom. The San Francisco on the Playa de Palma is considered one of the first large beach hotels. Tourism was already important for the island at that time.
There was also a distinct industry: shoes, jewelry and leather.
The oil crises in 1973 and 1979 caused air fares to rise dramatically, and the number of holidaymakers declined. When recovery began in the early 1980s, tourism also changed. During this time, people had more experience with holidays and their demands increased. Until the 1990s, there was strong competition in the industry. Large chains emerged, and the quality of the offers also increased. The tour operators exerted more pressure, the differentiation of offers began.
Basically, it can be said that people used to fly only once a year, if at all. Today, one-week or weekend holidays are common several times a year. Palma in particular benefits from this. Many boutique hotels in the city center have only been built in the last eight years. The season is also more extended today than it was a few years ago, when holidaymakers came almost exclusively in the summer months.
Over the years, more and more tourists from all over the world have taken a liking to the island, because today it offers much more than just beaches and sun.
In addition to the beautiful coasts of Mallorca, nowadays you can fully enjoy the range of activities or excursions to the city, and no longer have to stay only on the beaches of the island.
However, Playa de Palma remains one of the island's most popular destinations, where you can decide whether you prefer a quieter pace or enjoy the gastronomic delights on offer.
In this area there are also many leisure activities and activities for all kinds of public, the nautical activities such as diving, and parachuting are among the most sought after.
Mallorca – Worth Every Visit: A Journey into the Island’s Past
Have you ever wondered how and when “Mallorca – worth every visit” became one of the most popular travel destinations? Join us on a little journey into the past.
The Beginnings of Mallorca’s Popularity
Around 1900, Palma Cathedral established itself as an interesting travel magnet, attracting many tourists from all over the world. More and more interest was also aroused in Pollenca and Cala Ratjada, where the first hotels on the island opened. The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) interrupted this development, and visitor numbers did not pick up again until the 1950s and 1960s. The Second World War had brought about significant advances in aviation technology, and for the first time, northern Europeans were entitled to regular holidays.
“Mallorca – Worth Every Visit” in the Eyes of German Tourists
In Germany, for example, many people saw it as beneficial to their health to spend their holidays in the sun. Instead of going to the south of Germany, they began to travel more to Mallorca. The number of tour operators grew, and the German companies Dr. Tigges and later Neckermann were considered the pioneers of package holidays. They began to invest in the construction of hotels themselves because Spain was poor.
The Building Boom and Changes in Tourism
The 1960s saw a building boom on the previously agricultural island. The hotels were rather plain, as guests were not used to holidays and did not expect much. A buffet, a room, the beach nearby – they were satisfied with that. Palmas center was largely spared the crowds. Especially the Playa de Palma, but also Calvi and Alcdia, were in great demand at the beginning of the tourism boom. The San Francisco on the Playa de Palma is considered one of the first large beach hotels. Tourism was already important for the island at that time, and there was also a distinct industry of shoes, jewelry, and leather.
Modern Day Mallorca
Over the years, more and more tourists from all over the world have taken a liking to the island because today it offers much more than just beaches and sun. In addition to the beautiful coasts of Mallorca, nowadays, you can fully enjoy the range of activities or excursions to the city and no longer have to stay only on the beaches of the island. However, Playa de Palma remains one of the island’s most popular destinations, where you can decide whether you prefer a quieter pace or enjoy the gastronomic delights on offer. In this area, there are also many leisure activities and activities for all kinds of public, the nautical activities such as diving and parachuting are among the most sought after.
