Tourists in Majorca set a fresh vacation record!
In the summer of 2024, Mallorca, a popular tourist destination in Spain, witnessed a record-breaking influx of visitors, with over 13.5 million tourists flocking to its shores. This surge in tourist numbers led to several challenges, one of which was a significant increase in medical emergencies among tourists.
According to the Balearic health service, a total of 98,000 tourists required medical attention across Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera. Among these, guests from Germany, the UK, and France were the most affected, accounting for a substantial portion of the medical bills.
The cost of treating these tourists amounted to 73.2 million euros, a marked increase from the 34.6 million euros spent in 2023. The majority of the expenses were incurred on Mallorca, with over 30.6 million euros billed for medical treatment alone.
The European health insurance card was the primary means of billing for treatments of EU patients in 2024. However, if the card was missing or incorrectly recorded, the healthcare system bore the costs. The average cost per day on a normal ward for EU patients was approximately 1,300 euros, while the average cost per day in intensive care was about 1,800 euros.
The reasons for the hospital stays of EU patients in 2024 were not detailed in the article. However, it was known that they included heat strokes, circulatory problems, urinary tract infections, alcohol poisoning, and severe accidents such as balconing. Balconing refers to the dangerous trend of drunk tourists jumping from hotel balconies into pools or climbing from one balcony to another.
Despite the high costs, no EU patient was turned away from receiving treatment in 2024. The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was involved in regional government talks regarding the tourism-related health expenditures, but no direct information about the government leader of Mallorca addressing these costs was found.
As the tourist season continues, it is crucial to raise awareness about health and safety, both for the well-being of tourists and to manage the financial impact on local healthcare services.
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