YOUR VIEWS

BALEARIC TOURISM, A SET BACK OR A CRASH...
THE data published this week in the MDB with comparisons to other countries competing with Balearic tourism has not come as a surprise. It was particularly cynical to have read, some 6 months back, in our local press that the expected decline would be at best in the single digit! Those who have their faculties in place knew well that it is a far cry from what is coming. My own estimate was 30% or more - I wish we would have been at this level. The table outlining the comparison of costs between Egypt, Turkey and the Balearic epitomizes the real problem. Let's face it; our islands offer no value for money, little renewal and bad quality in every department: hotels, gastronomy, service and expensive flights! I sense that people heading to Palma and Ibiza are doing it out of old habits but, even habits die fast. More and more visitors are ‘'staying with friends'' or shop around for the best bargains. Other countries have learned from the mistakes Spain has and continues to make, compete in every sense of the word, and the situation will not get better! There is a clearly structural and fundamental issue which makes the island tourism heading to the abyss, more in the Balearics than perhaps other Spanish destinations. The discussions over the hike in VAT by 1-3% are no more than a physiological debate as I see it. What we need is a 50%! Reduction to hope that we regain momentum and brought to par with other countries competing for the tourist's money.

Last, I wrote to the editor some months ago about the virtual monopoly the German government, in what's appears as collusion with the Spanish authorities in the Balearic Islands, has granted to Air Berlin. The outcome we all know: you can fly in the high season to/from Europe at an average of Euro 300-400 per Pax! For families multiply it by 3-5 folds you get the largest, by far, expense in the family holiday budget. You can fly all the way to Australia – and cheaper to Egypt and Turkey - for not much more and save the difference facing reasonable prices in hotels, tours and gastronomy. Airlines used to chase markets and travelers demand however, the facts today is that airlines can create a market by offering attractive flights... in the case of Balearics – it is destroying our market. Airlines have no loyalty, once the demand diminishes they will be going elsewhere and we will be left without flights to support a recovery. Plenty to do! A wake up call to the politicians to do the needful instead of opening and closing plazas using tax payers money in projects which do not bring the needed return and many other unnecessary ‘investments'!

Arye Berest, Palma