Majorca fears as bookings 'nosedive' amid seafront's £32m refurb

Palma Majorca seafront is undergoing a major transformation (Image: Getty)

Bar and restaurant bookings have nosedived amid a £32.19 million (€37.5 million) seafront transformation in Palma Majorca.

The major construction project along the Paseo Marítimo promenade, which runs parallel to Palma's seafront, has led to a "significant drop" in bookings, despite business owners hoping for an uptick this Christmas, according to Majorca Daily Bulletin.

Juan Miguel Ferrer, president of the Mallorca CAEB Restaurant Association, said: "The new Paseo Marítimo is still under construction, and this is compounded by the lack of a Christmas spirit.

"As a result, we have seen a significant drop in bookings for these dates, which are key for restaurants. 

“It is a reality that businessmen in the area have had a hard time during the last three years of reforms, and this Christmas could have been an opportunity to give them a break”.

Palma cathedral (Image: Getty)

It's hoped the project will pay off in the long term so the Paseo Marítimo promenade will once again become a key destination for visitors and residents. 

Ferrer added: "That is why CAEB Mallorca Restoration trusts that these difficulties will be addressed on future occasions, with the aim of the Paseo Marítimo regaining its role as one of Palma's main centres of attraction."

The 2.1 mile Paseo Marítimo is being transformed into a pedestrian friendly zone for the cost of approximately £32.19million (€37.5m).

A completion date for the works which started in January 2023 was predicted for October this year, however it was delayed by six months to April or May 2025.

Six lanes of traffic are being reduced to four to make way for new green space with flowerbeds and approximately 2000 trees, outdoor recreational areas and furniture.

The Paseo links tourists and locals to some of Palma's main attractions, including its Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca, and many restaurants and shops.