Tourist bookings in the Balearics are down by between 10% and 20%, according to Aurelio Vázquez, President of the Association of Hotel Chains. This is the biggest fall that the Balearic tourism sector has suffered in 20 years.

Menorca is doing the worst, with British visitor bookings down 20%, and Germans down 15%.

Mallorca is doing slightly better, with British visitors down 15% and Germans down 10%.

Ibiza is coping the best, with British tourists down by 12%, and Germans down 10%.

Forecasts for Spanish tourists are not yet available, as Spaniards tend to book their holidays later in the year, but rapidly rising Spanish unemployment figures do not bode well.

The only segment bucking the trend is the ‘all inclusive’ hotel business, where bookings are up slightly.