Fieldwork School Trip to Mallorca
Mallorca
7 days from £540pp
45 Students + 5 Teachers (free)
The benefits of a school trip to Mallorca extend far beyond affordability and accessibility. The diversity of landscapes to explore, from the cityscape of capital city, Palma, to the open plains of the Es Pla region, contribute to the reasons why Mallorca should be on every geography student's travel list.
Mallorca is currently in process of change and development which makes the island a perfect case study for many geography fieldwork topics. Plus, for those in search of field studies conducted by passionate and knowledgeable geographers, there is no better than the Es Pla Education Centre.
Exploring the island from top to bottom, students will conduct field studies on rural and urban rebranding, sustainability and, of course, tourism.
Visit our field studies page to discover the full list of topics that can be studied during your time on this fascinating island.
Introduction to Mallorca and Fieldwork Preparation Session
Arrive in Palma, the capital of the Balearic Island. The airport itself gives indication to the popularity of Mallorca with tourists, as it is Spain’s third busiest airport, welcoming 27.9 million passengers each year, despite a population of only a million.
You will have a chance to meet your field studies tutor for the week, who will give you an introduction to Mallorca and you will begin preparation for your week’s field studies.
Rural Fieldwork; Regeneration and Rebranding
The open plains in the centre in the island, known as the Es Pla region is made up of small, picturesque villages and agricultural land.
As you drive away from the coastal towns towards the Es Pla region, it will feel like you are leaving behind the typical tourist hub and headed for a more traditional Mallorcan area, but this region is just as affected by tourism.
You can see this through villages such as Sineu. This small village has just over 3,600 residents but is home to the 700-year-old weekly market that now attracts 6,000 visitors every week. The village has to learn how to deal with overcrowding, maintain its identity and promote responsible tourism
It seems, the whole of Es Pla is in a process of regeneration and rebranding. Students will review to what extent places are able to adapt to changing circumstances, minimising negative impact of tourism and engaging in place making.
Urban Fieldwork; Regeneration and Rebranding
In stark contrast with yesterday’s study of rural rebranding, students will spend day 3 exploring the impacts of regeneration in an urban setting.
Students will head to the capital city, Palma, to discover how over the last 20 years the city has undergone a process of urban change and how public funds and private investment has transformed even some of the most deprived neighbourhoods.
They will look into how, currently, buildings in the city centre are being purchased by foreign investors and converted into luxury hotels, tourist apartments, second homes or nightlife venues. This new aspect of the regeneration process is currently provoking conflicts between local residents, the city council and tourists.
Urban fieldwork; Sustainable City
Staying in Palma, students will explore the city with a new focus; how the city is striving towards sustainability.
Taking into consideration the city’s transport, architecture, community, economy, energy and waste management, students will collect qualitative and quantitative data to review how successfully Palma is becoming sustainable.
To do this, students will ask questions such as; What more can the council do in order to make the city more sustainable? Is the participation of local people necessary for sustainability? Who are the stakeholders in the sustainability process? What are the impacts (both positive and negative) of sustainability for the stakeholders? What are the benefits to Palma of becoming a sustainable city?
Tourism fieldwork; Sustainability
With sustainability still fresh in students mind from yesterday, students will review how Mallorca is currently implementing a responsible tourism model, and shifting away from the “sun, sea and sand” model that Mallorca is famed for.
Mallorca’s economy relies on tourism, making the need to ensure their tourism model continues for future generations, even more important.
Students will consider how all relevant stakeholders, should be striving towards a model that; minimizes negative social, economic and environmental impacts; generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities; improves working conditions and access to the industry and much more!
Tourism fieldwork; Honeypot Sites
Continuing on the topic of Tourism, students will discover how honeypot sites are managed and responsibly developed.
During their exploration of honeypot sites in Mallorca, students will focus on one of two key areas.
Valldemossa village, a quaint village nestled in the famous Tramuntana mountains has a population of only around 2,000 people yet is a honeypot for tourists. The shops, cafes, art galleries and restaurants ensure tourists enjoy their time in the area and the historic Valldemossa Monastery is open 7 days a week for tourists’ convenience.
Sa Calobra is beloved by tourists and the end destination for many boat trips. The area is full of restaurants and bars, and the beach is a popular place for tourists to relax. In addition to this, Sa Calobra is a popular destination for a more active tourist, with enthusiastic hikers entering the famous Torrent de Pareis here and the winding roads being popular with cyclists.
Free time in Palma
Finish your week of field studies in Mallorca by looking at the city through the eyes of a tourist, with some free time in Palma.
Visit the impressive gothic cathedral, pop into one of the many cafes, or pick up your souvenirs.
Trip Notes:
Do you have a small group? For a group of 20 students travelling with 2 teachers this trip would cost just £615 per student. Get in touch with our team to get an accurate quote for your numbers and travel dates.Curriculum links
geography
- Water resources
- Economic change
- Population
- Urban change & growth
- Tourism
- Rural Rebranding
- Sustainability
6 Reasons to Choose Mallorca for your Next School Trip
Mallorca may not always spring to mind when planning a school trip, but this little Spanish island really does tick all the boxes when it comes to adventure, sightseeing and a host of activities. To help inspire you, here are six reasons why we love Mallorca.
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