YOUR VIEWS

WE live in difficult times and need to pursue every avenue to ensure a degree of success, certainly in the field of tourism.
I founded and ran a small company, annual turnover well in excess of one million pounds, widely promoting Majorca and providing quality holidays on the island, essentially at the upper end of the market. For our clients protection we were Abta registered, C.A.A. bonded and members of the AITO. We had a portfolio of self-catering accommodation essentially illustrating “the other Majorca” as well as dealing with mainly smaller privately owned hotels, often family owned and run. The problem of the legality of many of our self-catering properties as outlined by Dean Harding (and others) in his letter to the Daily Bulletin was a constant thorn in our side. We approached the tourist board in Majorca asking for clarification and help to register properties, alas to no avail. We even provided them with a copy of our all embracing contract which owners had to agree to and sign. This contract was produced in Spanish as well as English as many of our owners were Spanish and Majorcan. Our required criteria was stringent aimed at ensuring our clients received the best of service and facility and would hopefully ensure repeat business. It did indeed succeed in this.

We pointed out that us, the tour operator and the officials involved with tourism in Majorca were very much on the same side and it surely would be beneficial to work together. It never happened! Because we were involved with both self-catering holidays and hotels we were in a strong position to analyse our client base and their individual requirements, which we did. This exercise proved that whilst there was interchange with a percentage of our clients enjoying holidays both in hotels as well as self-catering the greater percentage of the clients could be categorised as regular hotel visitors, often always staying at the same hotel or self catering clients, again in many instances booking the same accommodation from year to year.

I am now retired and happy that I do not have to deal with the problems facing business and especially tourism today. However my love of the island of Majorca has not diminished and my wife and I continue to have a home there which we visit on a regular basis. It would be a great step forward if the powers that be on the island could work together, present a united front and produce a constructive plan to improve matters, which would benefit what can only be described as one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

Michael Walsh

Leeds U.K. and Palma Majorca

Dear Sir,

M husband and I have at least 2 holidays a year to Puerto Pollensa which is a lovely place and we have been going there for over 20 years now. However we have noticed the last 2 holidays in particular that the streets and pathways round the town are covered with dog mess. Why is nothing been done about this? The mess is also on the beaches. Children must be at risk from this and it spoils the area. Puerto Pollensa please clean up your streets! It is not too difficult for folk to pick up the dogs mess and place bags in bins which should be provided like they do here. It wouldn't cost too much and it would lead to a happier, healthier and cleaner town.

Janet Donaldson

Dear Sir,

AS a family owned car rental business in Majorca, we are amazed that people would regard €120 euros expensive for a weeks car rental here. a quick check for car rental over whitsun week shows Gatwick, Athens and Barcelona priced at €192, €154 and €155 respectively ! Furthermore two days car rental in Cardiff airport in September,best price found was over 60 pounds. We would love to see where your correspondent found two days rental for 28 pounds. If people feel they are being ripped off by firms they should shop around.

Regards. a family run local business