[en] A detailed analysis of the inclusive production of the vector mesons Φ, K^*,0(892), K-bar^*0(892), ρ^+,0, ω and the tensor mesons K^*0₂(1430) and f₂(1270) in K⁺p interactions at 250 GeV/c is presented. The data are compared with results at lower energies and with predictions of various quark-parton models. The production of ρ⁰, K^*0(892) and K-bar^*0(892) increases at the same rate as a function of energy, is concentrated in the central region and is not reproduced by the models. Production of the tensor mesons f₂(1270) and K₂^*0(1430) is suppressed relative to ρ⁰ and K^*0(892) by a factor of about 3. 33 refs.; 17 figs.; 9 tabs