TUI boss issues Majorca warning and says holidaymakers will head elsewhere this summer

The CEO of TUI has warned that Majorca and the Balearic Islands are becoming too expensive for families and that they may seek alternative destinations for their summer holidays.

Sebastian Ebel made the comments to the Balearic tourism ministry and said that families “are finding it increasingly difficult” to fund holidays to the Spanish islands, Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.

He said that families will be looking for cheaper alternatives to the islands, such as Bulgaria, which he described as a “serious alternative” this 2025 season.

In 2024 TUI brought a “record number” of holidaymakers to the Balearics, around two million. It’s yet to forecast how many visitors will head there this summer

According to Majorca Daily Bulletin, the Balearics tourism ministry is “relaxed” about the statements, particularly as rising prices reflect a push to focus on quality tourism rather than quantity.

It comes after demonstrations against mass tourism took place across the islands in 2024, with residents raising concerns about the impact of visitors on local infrastructure, the environment and on house prices.

The TUI CEO stated in May last year that Majorca and the Balearics had “reached their capacity for growth”.

In some regions such as Calvia, hoteliers have expressed concerns that an increase will negatively impact tourism, but mayor Juan Antonia feels that “demand is so strong that it will end up absorbing the price increases".

Mr Ebel’s comments come as Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy warned that the holidays in the Canary Islands are also under threat. He said that the islands’ anti-tourism protests and measures such as tourist taxes would drive holidaymakers away.

He said that “anti-tourism protests and derogatory comments from local