Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels is outstanding as an example of sustainable tourism

Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels is outstanding as an example of sustainable tourism © Sailing Energy / Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca

The Mallorcan Olympic classes regatta mustered more than 1,000 sailors from 54 countries base line numbers which reflect a good increase in hotel occupancy in low season, attracting a more conscious and respectful visitor profile with regard to the environment.

In its 54th edition, the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels attracted more than 2,000 people to the island, including sailors, coaches, journalists and members of the organizing team. Although the competition was held from March 28 to April 5, many teams arrived weeks earlier generating a notable increase in hotel occupancy during the month of March, just before the start of the Easter tourist season.

Sporting events such as the Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels are key tools for promoting a sustainable tourism model, by attracting visitors during off-peak periods and contributing to a more balanced distribution of tourist flow throughout the year.

This year, nearly 800 boats and boards and more than 1,000 sailors from 54 countries participated in the regatta, co-financed with funds from the Sustainable Tourism Tax of the Government of the Balearic Islands. This type of sports tourism promotes a visitor profile aligned with the values of sustainability, as it encourages outdoor activities in contact with nature, such as sailing, promoting the conservation of the natural environment.

According to the Playa de Palma Hotel Association, hotels operating during the month of March reached an occupancy rate of 75%. Its president, Pedro Marín, highlighted the strategic value of these events to combat tourist seasonality. "Initiatives such as the Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofía contribute decisively to deseasonalization, as reflected by the data for March and the forecasts for April. In addition, they place Playa de Palma on the international map, demonstrating the joint commitment of all sectors to revitalize this area," he said.

The president and founder of FERGUS Group, Pep Cañellas, expressed himself along the same lines, pointing out that "We are in the most complicated part of the season, which is just the beginning, and it is enough to see the number of people from all countries that are around the bay. These are more than ideal dates for people to come to enjoy the start of the good weather and help the start of all establishments, hotels, hotels and stores in these areas, can be part of the success of this competition."

The organization estimates that the economic impact of the event on the island is around seven million euros, a figure that includes expenses in accommodation, food, transport and registration of the participants. This economic return justifies the strong institutional support, as Pedro Mas, director of Tourism for Governance and Sustainability of the Consell de Mallorca, underlined during the official presentation: "The Princess Sofia Trophy is an opportunity to show that Mallorca has a lot to offer as an ideal setting for both sport and responsible tourism."

Joan Antoni Ramonell, General Director of Sports of the Government of the Balearic Islands, also praised the event: "The Sofia Trophy demonstrates the potential of Mallorca as a sporting destination of reference. From the Govern we will continue to promote events like this one, which contribute to the economic and tourist development of our community."

The impact of this competition is also measured in its mobility capacity, so the official transport company Trasmed transported 376 passengers 62 cars, 235 vans and 259 trailers with boats.

Mallorca has long since established itself as a winter base for international Olympic sailing teams, thanks to its quality hotel offer and competitive prices, the excellent nautical conditions of the Bay of Palma and the professionalism of the three organizing clubs: the Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa (CMSAP), the Club Nàutic S'Arenal (CNA) and the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP).

This year's edition was also the first scoring event for the Sailing Grand Slam 2025, along with the Semaine Olympique Française, the Dutch Water Week, the Kieler Woche and the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta. The event was jointly organized by the CNA, the CMSAP, the RCNP, the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation and the Balearic Sailing Federation, with the backing of World Sailing and the support of the main public institutions of the Balearic Islands.

Learn more about Mallorca here