Data regarding the number of visitors to heritage sites managed by the Foundation for Tourist Development in Menorca (which includes data from Torre d’en Galmés, Naveta des Tudons, Fort Marlborough and Torre de Fornells) show a positive trend over recent years.
This behaviour is directly related to the more notable projection of Talayotic Menorca (educational activities regarding the World Heritage candidature and promotion off the island have both increased), with investments that have been progressively injected to the different facilities so as to improve the visitor’s experience and ultimately increase the number of tourists.
Upon review of the overall number of visitors accounted for at these locations over the last five years, a growth trend can be clearly observed, with 54,702 visitors in 2014 and 84,670 in 2018, an increase of approximately 55%. To this group of monuments, we must also add the Museum of Menorca, which is also managed by the Island Council of Menorca.
The Talayotic settlement of Torre d’en Galmés: The monument with the greatest increase in attendance, from 16,114 in 2017 to 21,198 in 2018. The trend over the last five years has been of notable increases, considering in 2014 the site received 8,987 visitors, resulting in a positive difference of 200%. The inauguration of the interpretation and Menorcan prehistory centre has been determinant toward this evolution.
Naveta des Tudons: 2018 saw a decrease with respect to the prior year, which can be attributed to two specific circumstances. First, the construction work on the section of the motorway between Ciutadella and Ferreries inevitably resulted in the decreased visibility of the entrance to the monument; and second, the act of vandalism suffered by the monument in March of last year, which required further delays in opening to the public. Hence, while the number of visitors in 2017 was 44,449, in 2018 this number decreased to 33,708. This decrease breaks what was a clearly increasing trend recorded since 2014, further defending the interpretation that it was due to the abovementioned factors.
Museum of Menorca: Although between 2014 and 2018 visitation to the Museum of Menorca remained rather stable, with only small yearly fluctuations, it is worth mentioning that the 20,331 visitors from the year 2018 correspond only to the second half of the year, as the museum reopened its doors in July upon completion of a comprehensive renovation of the exhibition facilities. Therefore, after reopening and in just 6 months time, the Museum welcomed a number of visitors that it normally receives in an entire year.
Quite relevant is the fact that between 2011 and 2014, the percentage of Menorcan visitors to the Museum oscillated between 2% and 7%, while in 2018 islanders made up 42% of the total. This growth is a result of the invested efforts to attract the local population. In this sense, the fundamental idea was that the Museum should be a space where Menorcans, and not only visitors, can discover their own past and better understand their heritage. With this objective achieved, efforts will be made to maintain this level of local support while promoting tourist visitation.
*Note: The Torre d’en Galmés settlement and the Naveta des Tudons are open to the public year round, although it is only during the months of the high tourist season that visitation numbers are actually monitored. The detailed figures should therefore, in both cases, be increased so as to include those visitors who come to the sites during the low season.
No data is available for the Talayotic site of Trepucó in Maó because it offers open and free access, and hence attendance figures are not collected.