Empty Sunbeds, Tight Coffers: Mallorca's Beach Economy Under Pressure

A summer day, but different: thin wallets, towels spread out

In the morning the typical smell of sea and sunscreen drifts along the promenade, the seagulls cry, and yet much looks familiar and a little leaner than usual. Instead of the usual patchwork of rented sunbeds you now see more towels spread directly on the sand. Especially at well-known stretches like Playa de Muro or Can Picafort the flood of rental customers is missing – with noticeable consequences for rental companies and the adjacent beach bars.

Why are the sunbeds empty?

One of the most obvious reasons: rising travel costs. Higher flight and hotel prices leave many holidaymakers with a smaller budget for extras. A day without a rented sunbed only saves a few euros, but it adds up over a holiday as a conscious saving strategy. "You notice immediately that fewer people come to us," says a renter at Playa de Muro who has been setting up parasols and sunbeds for years.

But that is not the whole story. Many guests come for shorter stays or travel more flexibly – weekend trips instead of two-week stays – and therefore book additional services less often. Others have simply changed the way they spend time on the beach: self-sufficient solutions like folding chairs, camping chairs or personal sunshades are gaining popularity. For operators this means: fewer walk-in customers and more uneven income.

Who else is suffering – and what costs lie behind the scenes

Not only sunbed renters are affected. Chiringuitos and beach bars also report significantly lower revenues; association figures speak of double-digit percentage declines. The reasons are not only lower guest spending but also rising operating costs: higher energy prices, more expensive procurement of goods and increased personnel costs squeeze margins.

In addition, the precarious situation of many seasonal workers burdens the businesses. Without a reliable core staff, operators can react less flexibly to demand. And insurance costs or fees for beach concessions are hardly variable for small operators – fixed costs remain.

Aspects often missing from the public debate

Public discussion usually focuses on tourist numbers or overnight statistics. Less attention is paid to how consumption behaviour shifts within target groups: younger travellers often prefer cheap, non-commercial beach days; families with children pay more attention to overall affordable costs. Also rarely discussed is the effect of micro-trends like sustainable travel behaviour. Some guests avoid rented plastic sunbeds for environmental reasons or bring their own textile solutions.

The role of infrastructure is also important: parking fees, beach-near bus connections or affordable access to sanitary facilities influence whether visitors spend a whole day at the beach – and therefore whether they spend money with renters or bars.

Concrete opportunities and solutions

The situation is serious, but not hopeless. Some ideas that come up in conversations with operators are pragmatic and quick to implement:

Flexible pricing models: Day and short-term rates, family packages or "happy hour" discounts in the late afternoon could attract guests in the short term.

Cooperation with hotels and landlords: Bundled offers – sunbed plus transfer or beach rental with breakfast at the chiringuito – increase the perceived added value.

Digital visibility: Mobile booking, simple online payment and social media campaigns attract spontaneous visitors and reduce administrative effort.

Quality over quantity: Some operators focus on sustainable materials, ergonomic sunbeds or shade-providing structures as unique selling points – this justifies higher prices for a better experience.

Municipal support: Short-term fee adjustments or marketing support from municipalities would relieve small operators and appeal to tourists again.

An outlook with room for pragmatism

The central question remains: will this be a temporary intermezzo or a lasting structural change? The answer probably lies somewhere in between. Mallorca remains attractive – sun, sea and familiar beach sounds are still there. But the way people structure their holidays is changing: more flexible, cost-conscious, with a growing focus on sustainability.

For the many operators along the coast this means: adapt, experiment and collaborate more closely. Sometimes a better shop window on the promenade, a timely price adjustment or a small combo ticket with a hotel is enough to make a beach spot desirable again. The question is whether there is enough courage and creativity to experience the next summer with full occupancy once more.