After a strong start the Ibiza summer season has settled into a groove and although it’s not an unfamiliar cry, the word on the street is ‘quiet’…..and not in decibels.
April and May started brightly as it often does but once the island opened up completely things started to tail off a little especially for the secondary businesses such as bars and restaurants not on the frontline.
I’ve often written about Ibizas ‘top table’, those businesses that appear to be bullet proof – places that perform year in and year out fuelled by social media and spin and these have been busy although some are showing signs of lethargy.
The introduction of a new high capacity super club has changed the night time dynamic and it would be naive to suggest that this hasn’t affected other businesses in that sector. After a strong opening there’s now plenty of freebies flying about for workers and residents and it stands to reason that a new establishment that has spent tens of millions can’t take the risk of being empty, it devalues their brand and investment and more importantly it deters genuine payers from walking through the door. Perception as opposed to reality is everything in Ibiza.
The official stats show that the average stay in Ibiza is now a little over 3 nights and this continues to have a massive impact on the island. The modern day tourist is ‘cash rich and time poor’ with 72 hours for their White Isle experience, most have their holidays planned months in advance fuelled by social media. This is good news for a few (the top table again) but bad news for the vast majority.
72 hours isn’t enough time to sample anything apart from the same few places that appeal to their demographic so the other establishments that aren’t on the A-list remain quiet even going into the peak season.
Price is also playing a big part. Ibiza is steadily edging up from ‘expensive’ to ‘downright ridiculous’. These are the prices that go with world famous brands however the good news is that increased competition has motivated some clubs to start offering drinks deals that makes the entrance ticket more reasonably priced.
It’s not panic time yet and it’s not unusual to have a lull in the first half of July but there will be a few worried businesses. August is around the corner and then the countdown is on for the end of season. September is historically a strong month especially with the club closings now at the start of October but is that enough time to claw back any early season losses?
As is usual with Ibiza, it’s all gone in a blink of an eye and it remains to be seen whether 2025 will be viewed as a success, the mid term report is still very much undecided.
MAN IN SAN AN by Martin Makepeace 
Saturday. A group of Japanese people fly from Tokyo to Dubai and then take a private jet to Ibiza. Land Sunday and taken to villa. Sunday night. UNVRS. Monday night. Hi. Tuesday…… Fly away. The ultimate 3 dayer.
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The same old story, the big players getting all the business while the majority get nothing.
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I agree with this, just got back from San Antonio last week and it felt like October rather than July (not the temperatures). Yes the usual sunstrip places were busy…ish but beaches (like Cala des Moro) felt quiet compared to previous years at the same date, thought it was just me but your blog confirms my suspicions that it was certainly quieter than normal.
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I guess that’s what happens when you ban small holiday rentals, and plaster “Tourist Prohibited” stickers on lampposts and gates, everywhere.
We visit Ibiza twice a year, for the last 25 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt as unwelcome as I did in May/June this year.
Social Media is awash with people who share their travel plans. Land, dump luggage in locker, Club, sleep on the beach, back on the plane. No money spent on the Island.
Ibiza is getting what it wished for, but good luck with making it through the Winter, if it continues.
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Absolutely, Ibiza is not busy at all. Have not seen it that empty since COVID.
ridiculous pricing – 200€ a night for accommodation which is not worth even 100€, 6€ for a normal coffee in Santa Gertrudis, 30 for a shawarma in dalt villa.
Es Vedra view point closed, sa trinxa DJs banned, Benirras Drummers banned , all 3 major favorite spots on the island for regulars. Tourists not welcome , because of housing crises, meanwhile empty buildings / hotels everywhere, a lot of space to build worker’s accommodation.
I love the island, lived here for years, but meanwhile I am also starting to doubt why I come back if I am not welcome, while they rip me off with ridiculous pricing and major cool spots are just being closed??
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I’ve been twice this year. In April for Easter and 10 nights in July as a family of 5. We stayed in a beautiful 5 bed villa for £4.5k we always eat and drink local of an evening. It didn’t appear quiet to me I’ve been coming twice a year since the late 90’s. Also you can always find reasonable accommodation if you look hard enough. Our flights out only cost us £25pp as well (low cost airline but I’ll put up with it in order to get my Ibiza fix 😊)
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Great stuff but you’re the exception not the rule & as an Ibiza veteran you know where to look, however the herd just follow what’s on social media.
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