But the fall is certainly a blow for the Balearic government and many others who have been busy telling anyone who would listen that Mallorca was on course for yet another record holiday season. Don’t get me wrong, this still could be the case but it was certainly a wake-up call.
The first warning came from the Playa de Palma hoteliers association who claimed that this season would be similar to last year (in other words no major increase). And then this week the bombshell announcement that there were fewer flights. It is not rocket science really.
Germany and Britain are suffering economically, people have less money to spend. There is also greater competition with cheaper, competing resorts in the eastern Mediterranean proving to be popular. My advice to the Mallorcan tourist industry is don’t count your chickens before they hatch ... you can’t have a record season every year.
]]>Not only are you sitting on a nice nest egg you can also command a massive rental income. It is not only the value of homes which have increased, it is their rental value as well, with rents being some of the highest in the country. There are complaints that young people can’t afford to buy their own homes. This has little to do with the real estate industry. It is a failed government housing policy with successive governments across the political spectrum to blame.
An affordable housing plan should have been introduced 20 years ago and this would have resolved the problem. The government could have built hundreds of affordable homes. But no.
Governments were the first to cash-in on the benefits of the housing boom but did little to ensure that there was a stock of affordable homes available. Those lucky enough to own a property on the island can toast their good fortune. They made the right choice; unfortunately they will find it difficult to buy again.
]]>The event is one of the highlights of the Saint George's week celebrations in Palmanova as the Calvia council thanks English tourists and residents for their support over the years. The Hotel Zel opened last year in Palmanova and is partly owned by Mallorca tennis legend, Rafa Nadal.
The book signing will be taking place on the terrace of the popular hotel. The Mayor of Calvia, Juan Antonio Amengual and other officials are also expected to attend.
The Saint George's week celebrations look set to become a yearly event joining the hugely successful Saint Patrick's day events in Santa Ponsa and the German beer festival event in Paguera.
The celebrations will kick off Tuesday April 23 with the traditional San Jordi book fair. Throughout the week there will be a whole series of events from live music, to displays and parades.
]]>The walkway is now complete and all the necessary equipment has been installed. Palma airport has said that the walkway will be a major asset to the airport for this summer when it opens next month. British travellers have to go through passport control when they depart or enter Spain unlike their counterparts from European Union countries. Palma airport is expecting a record year for British tourism this summer.
Earlier Spanish airport operator Aena said the airlines in its network have scheduled nearly 8 percent more seats for this summer than last year, as a rebound in tourism continues since pandemic-related curbs ended. Airlines have planned 243 million seats at Aena airports, including for both departures and arrivals, for the summer season from March 31 through Oct. 26, Aena said.
However, informed sources have told the Bulletin that it´s launch was very close. On this occasion it will be shown on Amazon and probably not the BBC. Julian Looman who plays the pary of Max Winter in the popular series said during the ITB tourism fair that everything was going to plan.
The series contains some fantastic scenes of the island.
Cosmopolitan Pictures founder Ben Donald said the series came from "(a) desire to create a feel-good action-driven cop show like the ones I grew up with and, secondly, a desire to rebrand and refresh the Anglo-German relationship on television." Filming for the first series started in November 2018.
Filming on the second series was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only six of the planned ten episodes were produced.
]]>She will be sailing into Palma on April 19 as part of a Mediterranean cruise. Arvia has over 30 bars and restaurants onboard. Arvia's onboard spa, available at extra cost, has several facilities, including a hydrotherapy area with a salt steam room, cold room, sauna and experiential showers.
On 16 March 2023, Arvia was named in Barbados by Nicole Scherzinger. The naming ceremony was a beachside ceremony. Olly Murs was also singing in the event. Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley was also present in the event and gave a speech during the event.
Top ten biggest cruise ships in the world.
1. Icon of the Seas
2. Wonder of the Seas
3. Symphony Of the Seas
4. Harmony of the Seas
5. Allure of the Seas
6. Oasis of the Seas
7. MSC World Europa
8. Costa Smeralda
9. P & O Arvia
10. P&O Iona
]]>The whole operation was organised by Adrian with the support of the council. Adrian thanked Ryanair for their support in bringing the shamwock to Mallorca.
Writing in today's Bulletin the Lions President spoke of the importance of Saint Patrick's day.
Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, in Irish "Lá Fhéile Pádraig".
Records show that a St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish colony under the direction of the colony's Irish vicar, Ricardo Artur. More than a century later, homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in Boston in 1737 and in New York City on March 1762.
Saint Patrick, who was born in the late 4th century, was one of the most successful Christian missionaries in history. Born in Britain to a Christian family of Roman citizenship, he was taken prisoner at the age of 16 by a group of Irish raiders who attacked his family’s estate. They transported him to Ireland, and he spent six years in captivity before escaping back to Britain.
Believing he had been called by God to Christianise Ireland, he joined the Catholic Church and studied for 15 years before being consecrated as the church’s second missionary to Ireland. Patrick began his mission to Ireland in 432, and by his death in 461, the island was almost entirely Christian.
Early Irish settlers to the American colonies, many of whom were indentured servants, brought the Irish tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s feast day to America.
Americans of Irish ancestry celebrate their cultural identity and history by enjoying St. Patrick’s Day parades and engaging in celebrations that generally involve public parades and festivals, céili (Irish Dancing) and the wearing of green attire and shamrock.
Shamrock is a type of clover, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name shamrock comes from Irish seamróg, which is the diminutive of the Irish word seamair and simply means "young clover".
Here in Mallorca specifically Calvia and Santa Ponsa, St Patricks Day has been established and celebrated since 2013 by the then Mayor Manu Oineva and organised by Calvia Townhall with many events on March 17th.
This year again there will be many events taking place in Santa Ponsa.
Go along and join in the celebrations enjoy a glass or two of Guinness, from one of the many bars.
Listen to Irish traditional music by the famous Raggle Taggle Gypsies, Mick the Fiddler plus other Irish musicians.
If you have heard the Irish talking about having great "craic", it means enjoyable social activity or having a good time.
Go along to Santa Ponsa join in the fun and CRAIC
Last weekend I was in Valencia, one of the few places in Spain where home sales to foreigners have continued to rise over the last year and you can see why. Valencia has benefited dramatically over the last two decades from substantial investment with the construction of many new attractions including the science park and convention centre. It is also cheaper than Mallorca and in my experience tourists are treated like kings.
The Valencians are quite rightly proud of their city and its traditions, including the Fallas, which is basically a giant firework display in honour of Saint Joseph. What I like about Valencia is that they have been able to combine the old and the new in style. It is also a city with ambition, it has even held its own Formula 1 championship race and the America‘s Cup.
Palma could learn from Valencia and what it has to offer. There is a metro which works and is well used, restaurants and bars have used their imagination so that they offer value for money and quality. Yes, Valencia is a great place.
]]>At the moment British citizens (and others from outside the European Union) who are non-resident can only spend a maximum of 180 days in Spain (in two blocks of two). This ruling, introduced following Brexit, is a nightmare for non-resident holiday home owners who can only enjoy their place in the sun for 180 days a year.
These are some of the penalties which could be enforced.
Fines – a fine between 500€-10,000€ depending on how long you’ve overstayed. A fine could also be issued in conjunction with an entry ban.
Entry bans – If you’re caught travelling in Spain – or any other Schengen country – past the 90-day period, you could be banned from re-entering for up to 3 years.
Spain is fighting to end the 180 day rule but it would need the support of all European Union member staties.
]]>1. Scrap the 90 day rule for British and other non-European Union citizens. It is a nightmare situation that holiday home owners (non-resident) from outside the European Union can only spend 180 days enjoying their Mallorca home. It is especially hard for Britons because the majority bought their home before Brexit when they were not governed by this law. Many Britons are thinking of selling their homes because they have become an expensive luxury which they can only enjoy six months of the year.
2. Make it easier for home owners to rent out their properties. The rental laws in the Balearics are very strict and apartment owners are not able to rent out their properties for short periods so this rules out holiday lets. If the laws were relaxed and providing the home owners pay tax on their earnings and have the necessary paperwork and quality standards I believe that they should be able to rent out their properties to holidaymakers. It would make owning a home on the island and even more attractive proposition.
3. Cut red tape especially for British buyers. Since Brexit, would-be British property buyers have been hit by yet more red tape when buying a property. In some cases they have to seek permission from the military to buy a home.
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