Published
Tue, Nov 15, 2016, 11:49
- 650,000 people visited the White Isle in October alone, up 33% from 2015.
Ibiza is more popular than ever before according to official figures, which show that more than 7.1 million people have visited the island in 2016 so far.
The exact number, according to Diario De Ibiza, is 7,109,115, counting from January through October. That represents a 14.6% total rise from the same period in 2015. Vicent Torres, Ibiza's director of tourism, puts it down to large spikes in visitors during "usually lost months" like October, which has doubled in the last decade and is up 33% from last year. Juanjo Riera, head of Ibiza's Hotel Federation, says the island has also benefitted from what he calls "borrowed tourism," becoming a destination for clients that usually visit North Africa or Turkey, but haven't due to security issues. He described these as "exceptional circumstances."
Ibiza's club scene has endured a tumultuous summer. Amnesia, Space, Pacha and Ushuaia were all raided by police, beach bar Lips was shut down and DC-10 was sanctioned for excessive noise levels at its closing party.
Other stories /
Ibiza police sanction DC-10 for excessive noise levels at 2016 closing
Police seize more than €300k in cash from Amnesia Ibiza owner
Spanish police find millions of Euros in cash inside Ushuaïa and Pacha
Ibiza clubs Ushuaïa and Pacha raided by Spanish police
Space and Privilege searched as Spanish police continue Ibiza crackdown
Police use pick axes to find hidden compartments at Amnesia
Spanish police return to search Amnesia following raid
Amnesia Ibiza raided by police
Ibiza government cancels tINI and the gang beach parties for 2016