We are nearly at the end of August and with children in the UK returning to school next week the major part of the summer is over. September is normally a good month for couples and students so let’s hope that is the case. I’m writing this before the UK announces any changes to its travel restrictions but most experts are predicting that the Spain and the Balearics will remain on the amber list. Covid numbers here are starting to fall again which is good news and our double vaccination rate is at 70% of the population.
Thoughts must now turn to Summer 2022. It would be nice to keep the summer going for as long as possible that was talked about early in the season but I personally can’t see it happening. For me too much thought has gone on the short term and not enough thought has gone into the long term planning of tourism on the island.
Most of our lives revolve around social media especially in the younger market. Let’s remember we should still be encouraging the younger market to come to the island, I’m not talking about drunken tourism here but the youngsters will be the lifeblood of our island for years to come. They’ll end up bringing their own families here and it becomes a cycle that keeps on turning.
The Tourism Minister Iago Negueruela said on Monday that while the tourism season has not been a typical one, it has still been good – “much better than we had anticipated”. I don’t quite know what he anticipated but I imagine the percentage of businesses that would rate the season as “good” would not be a high one. It is true that the higher end of the market has been good but for the rest of the market it has been a struggle and some businesses haven’t opened at all. In most cases those businesses haven’t opened since the end of October 2019. There now has to be a clear plan and path to 2022.
A few things have happened over the last couple of weeks that the authorities should be grabbing with both arms, as they are presents that don’t come around too often. And even better than that, they haven’t had to spend a Euro to get them.
Shawn Mendes might not be a name that is instantly recognisable to all of you out there but believe me his popularity is Worldwide.
He is a 23 year old Canadian singer and songwriter who is known for hit songs like “Stitches”, “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” and his collaboration with Camilla Cabello “Señorita.”
He released his new single “Summer of Love” on the 20th of August and where did he decide to film the video for the new single? Here in Mallorca. If you’re not sure about the reach he can generate, let me fill you in. He has just over 62 million followers on Instagram, 26.5 million on Twitter, 16.5 million on Facebook, 7.6 million on TikTok and since he shared the video on You Tube 6 days ago it has been watched 10 million times.
There are some beautiful shots of Mallorca both inland and by the coast. He even did a pop up event marketing the single to his fans in Manhattan New York by saying, “Mallorca vibes in NYC for the #summeroflove”
Love island may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it made its way into on average 3 million homes in the Uk every evening. Giving the island a perfect platform. It has 3.4 million on Instagram, 1.2 million on Twitter, 1.3 million on Facebook and it has 1.5 million subscribers on you tube. ITV boss Kevin Lygo insists Love Island has “many more years” despite a ratings fall.
Although 2.8 million people tuned in to watch Liam Reardon and Millie Court be crowned winners this week, that was down 22% on the last summer series, in 2019.
Asked if the best days of the show were behind it, ITV director of television Lygo said: “I think this is a pattern that you see when new programmes come along and they are huge phenomenons. On catch-up it’s… the best performing series ever. I’m sure it will return to the island next year.
In an interview this week, actor Michael Douglas said “Mallorca is the place I love most in the World.” Yes that’s right, Michael Kirk Douglas the American actor and producer. Who has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the AFI Life Achievement Award.
He along with his Wife Catherine Zeta Jones have a holiday home here on the island on the West coast. They have been posting pictures and videos on the Instagram accounts all summer which together total 5 million people.
There are three different examples of how popular Mallorca is and more so now than ever, we are looking at a Worldwide audience.
It’s time for our Government to act as soon as possible.
Take care everyone and enjoy your Weekend!
Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday 07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at www.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!
Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com
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