It’s the final week of April and so far this month has been a real eye opener.
The big question over winter was if the post covid boom of last summer would lead to some form of bust this year however this has been emphatically answered with a ‘no’. In over 3 decades I’ve never known such a busy start to a summer season.
The Ibiza streets are already bustling, the beaches and restaurants are packed and the Island has come alive earlier than ever before. We have been blessed with some unbelievable weather but even so, the numbers don’t lie.
With more daily international flights coming into the Island than ever before the trend is set to continue for the end of April and May which is traditionally the low season. In San Antonio Pikes, O Beach and Mambo have already opened, the International Music Summit starts this week, a full month earlier than when it was originally conceived, and let’s not forget Ushuaia and Hï also have their opening parties this coming weekend. Even Amnesia has jumped onboard with an early party this Friday. Wow!
Not only have we seen an amazing start to the summer season, last week it was reported that Ibiza now has 4 of the 6 most expensive towns to buy a property in the whole of Spain – Full list here. Traditionally it has been Madrid and Barcelona at the top of the list however this has been superseded by Sant Josep at number 1 followed by Santa Eulària in second. Ibiza Town is in fifth place with San Antonio in sixth – who’d have ever thought that!
This is fantastic news if you already own a property on the White Isle but not so good if you looking to get on the ladder. As ever it’s a double edged sword but is another significant signal that Ibiza is at an all time high and since when has surging property prices been a bad sign about the local economy.
The elephant in the room as usual is the phenomenally high rental prices coupled with historically low wages and ongoing staffing issues. Many businesses are desperate for staff but there isn’t the footfall any more and even if there was, there’s nowhere for them to live, not at a reasonable price anyway.
So the conundrum of the White Isle continues to baffle the so-called experts but with world class clubs, a hotel sector that is unrecognisable from a decade ago, a burgeoning culinary reputation, 300 days of sunshine a year and the most incredible nature it doesn’t take a genius to unravel the riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.
The summer season is now well and truly upon us and the signs are very good, the usual issues will no doubt raise their head over the coming months but the view from inside tells us that Ibiza is at the very top of its game, make no mistake about that!
"MAN IN SAN AN" by Martin Makepeace 
Martin I absolutely agree with you on all points. However you have rather swerved the point in your penultimate paragraph.
There IS A SOLUTION and it is in the hands of the business operators. PAY UP AND SMILE. Visitors are now coming, as you rightly say, expecting world class standards. However world class standards require first class service, but without staff to provide that service, expectations will not be met. The consequences of this are that people will leave disappointed and not come back.
By not paying their staff fair wages that enable them to live here safely and in reasonable comfort employers are on a course of self destruction. Ladies and Gentlemen for pity’s sake wake up, learn the first principles of basic economics. If you do you will thrive, handsomely. If you do not both YOU and the entire island economy will fail.
How tragic!
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Yep. Time to pay a reasonable wage however employment rules are never easy in Spain.
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Martin – do you mean that employers aren’t free to pay market wages and salaries?
Carl
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The salaries aren’t keeping up with the rent rises. It’s an untenable situation for lots of employers.
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It’s a sad situation for those wanting to work in the white isle .. definitely consequences for businesses. First year ( post covid) in 8 years of working summer seasons neither of my kids are coming back to work due to the RIDICULOUS rents and upfront monies required 🤬 They just cannot afford to live there , so whilst I’m optimistic for the resurgence of the island it won’t happen if the workers are not dealt a fair chance in order to provide that world class service it is boasting .
Let’s hope that common sense will prevail 🙏🙏🙄
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