What are the benefits of organising sporting events in the Balearic Islands?

Holding these events can cause some rejection among the inhabitants of the affected areas, mainly due to the momentary interruption in the usual service of certain transport infrastructures or the unavailability of certain areas while the event takes place. 

However, the advantages of these events greatly outweigh the disadvantages. The main one is the new positioning that the islands will achieve at an international level, the diversification in terms of the image that is projected of the islands, being perceived as ideal destinations for the practice of sports. But there are many more advantages, read on to discover them.

Quality tourism linked to the continuous improvement of the destination

Tourists who come to the Balearic Islands to practice their favourite sport tend to have a higher spending capacity. However, the main benefit of this type of tourism is not its purchasing power, but respect for the destination, its environment and its infrastructure. 

This type of tourism is characterised by its high quality, since in addition to generating wealth in the local economic fabric, people are attracted to the landscape and the services provided in the places where the events are held, thus promoting the improvement and maintenance of the environment and the infrastructures of the destination. 

The presence of these tourists not only implies their participation in a sporting event, but also that they spend the night, taste the food, relax by visiting other places during their stays and transmit to other sportsmen and women the pleasant experience they had. Another factor to bear in mind is that they do not usually travel alone, they take advantage of these events to get to know the destination together with their family, partner or friends.

A tourist who visits at any time of the year

Another clearly positive indicator is that it breaks the seasonality to which everyone is accustomed in the Balearic Islands. 

Sports events are organised throughout the year, and depending on the type of event, mainly in the coolest seasons of the year, in the middle or low season, precisely to combat the heat for the participants. In this way, if we defend the development and consolidation of this type of event, it favours the deseasonalisation of tourism in the Balearic Islands. 

Holding sporting events in the Balearic Islands raises the occupancy rates in accommodation during the seasons in the year with fewest tourists. This translates into an increase in employment and wealth, not only in the enclave in which it takes place, but in all areas of the island where it takes place. In addition, the sporting event attracts tourists during the event itself and also during the days before and after. 

The retransmission of the events, the summaries with the results or the previous presentation, in the whole range of local, national and international media, project the image of the Balearic Islands as an ideal destination for the celebration of sports events.

A new way of perceiving the Balearic Islands

Events of all kinds, whether cultural, artistic or sporting, constitute a great opportunity for the tourist development of cities or regions insofar as they encourage local socio-economic development and generate employment. 

This benefits not only tourists, but also the local population. There are tourist segments that attract more and more visitors who are looking for experiences related to health, local heritage or sport. Tourist segments such as art and culture, which make tourists to pursue plays, artists' concerts or temporary exhibitions throughout the territory. Or like sport, which besides giving the possibility of attending events of world interest as a spectator, also gives the opportunity to tourists to attend many other events as participants: marathons, triathlons, popular races, cycling tours, etc. 

If we take care of these types of events, and their participants, we will ensure that the Balearic Islands are recognised as an ideal destination for lovers of sport and health. Thus, we will offer more diversity, our Natural and Cultural Heritage will be enhanced with new ways of travelling and enjoying the Islands.

The final objective is to increase the quality of tourism, not the quantity of tourists. The aim is to promote a more diverse economic model, less concentrated at certain times of the year, respectful of the destination and which facilitates the improvement and conservation of the environment. 

And don't you think it would be positive to position ourselves as a destination that cares about improving its heritage and that is aware of the need to focus on a more diverse tourism? 

In short, thanks to the sporting events held in the Balearic Islands we are attracting tourists of higher quality, who are more respectful of the destination and who visit us at any time of year. Will you help us keep it up?