Businesses are adapting to changing travel trends
Businesses at a popular Spanish resort have been forced to adapt their opening hours due to British tourists. Clubs in Magaluf, Majorca, have been opening earlier as holidaymakers ditch late night partying in favour of earlier drinking sessions.
The Punta Ballena strip has long been a destination for the Brits indulging in a ‘boozey-break’ with many partying until the sunrise. But now trends are changing among tourists with many choosing to drink during the day and early evening instead of pulling all-nighters.
This shift in behaviour has pushed nightclubs in the Majorca hotspot to bring forward their opening times. Calvia town hall has now given the green light for clubs to open from 6pm, as reported by What’s The Jam.
Officials say the move follows a major change in the way both locals and tourists spend their money and their nights out. They want to attract visitors who have more cash to splash and are seen as more “mature and responsible”.
Residents had also called for the change, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported. The hope is that earlier club hours will boost the local economy.
It’s also thought the change will cut down on booze related incidents and antisocial behaviour. Locals could also finally see less noise and quieter streets in the early hours.
A spokesperson from Calvia Town Hall said: “Advancing opening hours doesn’t mean more noise or less control. “On the contrary, it means planning, regulation and an offering adapted to current demand, where fun and tourism quality coexist.”
The move for businesses to adapt to tourists’ behaviour comes after some resorts across mainland Spain experienced quiet spells as many UK tourists tighten their belts and ditch holidays abroad. Another factor impacting visitors has been the anti-mass tourism protests of 2024, which took place in holiday hotspots like Majorca and Ibiza.
This summer videos showing deserted streets in Barcelona were posted on TikTok by user lauratravelvlogs, with many commenting that tourism is down. Meanwhile photos of Benidorm in August showed rows of empty bars and restaurants, with those in the industry raising concerns over the impact this will have on the local economy and jobs.