GOING NOWHERE

WE are facing yet another winter with only a small number of flights to England and none to Scotland. This basically means that there will be no or very little winter tourism from Britain. Expatriates also face a nightmare trying to get off the island and head back to Britain for the festive period. But to make matters worse British airlines say that they are willing to fly to Majorca during the winter season as long as they have the support from local authorities. Despite many promises this support has not been forthcoming and for this reason they have cutback their winter flight programme.

The airlines don't want enormous sums of cash just some help to pay for joint promotion campaigns. This isn't too much to ask for really. Palma city council is to reintroduce its campaign, Palma 365 days year, this is all very well but if there are no flights from Britain perhaps this campaign should be renamed Palma 150 days! In some ways those wanting to go to England are lucky, at least there are some flights, but Scotland is once more cut-off from Majorca with no direct flights. These means that thousands of Scottish holidaymakers will abandon their favourite holiday island and go somewhere else. This is a scandalous state of affairs and something needs to be done. If Majorca wants to see a revival in winter tourism, then there must be flights to the island. Local authorities need to start work at once.