FLIGHTS WANTED

The answer is simple:
The yields achieved on the London-Ibiza route are significantly higher than those achieved on London-Palma.
It's a simple commercial decision as far as the airlines are concerned.
This in itself poses a very serious question; the “hub” of the problem Majorca appears to have in attracting certain airlines to the island, even during the summer months.

Ibiza continues to move “niche” and upmarket, while Majorca does the reverse. This is a different but nevertheless very serious problem that Majorca has. And if Majorca continues to move downmarket as fast as Ibiza moves upmarket, then in the longer term we will have a far larger long term problem on this island.

As far as low season is concerned, while there are no financial incentives and/or subsidies from the Government/airport operators in the Balearic's, no airline will commence or increase winter schdules to any of our islands.

This is a complex and commercial problem that will continue until such a time that the Government really get to grips with “year round” tourism and creates a long term funded marketing plan for the islands, starting with the airline issue.

Johnny Carr
Majorca/Dubai

Dear Sir, We have just returned from 11 wonderful days in Majorca and being avid readers of the excellent Daily Bulletin we have been following the headlines covering the well deserved increase in tourist numbers (albeit potentially affected by the problems in Egypt and Tunisia and the interest generated by the relocated ABTA conference. From only a year ago we certainly noticed how bars and restaurants are now looking at pricing policies in an effort to attract more tourists.

Prices now seem to be comparable if not lower than the UK and whilst we will never see the return to the prices of yesteryear the restaurants represent good value (I have to say that the quality of the food in most restaurants was superior to the UK in almost every aspect). The downside is that certain businesses have not survived the recession.

In general everything appears in place (bar the lack of winter flights) for the Island to push forward and ensure that tourists return in the same (if not greater) numbers in future years. However people must not lose sight of the need to ensure that the quality of the Island experience is not compromised by seemingly thoughtless events such as we witnessed at Puerto Pollensa beach. Notwithstanding the fact that beach beds and parasols were being cleared from the beach before the end of September there was one specific day when individuals working for the beach management team decided to dismantle parasols from the front rows whilst holiday makers were actually laying on or under presumably paid for sunbeds/parasols. The end result was that sunbathers were inevitably covered in the accumulated summer dust and sand in the parasols.

Quite why the focus should be on the fully occupied front row which is the choice of parents with young children and not the virtually unoccupied and easily accessible second row defies belief. Sadly their inefficient actions appeared to be organised without any concern for the welfare or any disruption caused to the tourists. I think that this year the Beach management was undertaken by a new organisation . I would recommend they try harder next year to avoid ‘shooting themselves in the foot' and perhaps realise its the people they treated with a degree of contempt are those that pay €11 a day for the use of the beds, money which, in part, presumably supports their wages.

We are fortunate to take regular holidays in Majorca but just (say) one of the families affected came to the island for the first time (for whatever reason).

What will they remember from their holiday? The good things or the one bad. Will they come back again as a consequence of the latter ? Perhaps the Beach management may reflect on this.

Regards
Martin Hales
Dear Sir, The debate on winter flights really misses the real problem here in Majorca, lets say there are daily flights from the UK, what are the passengers going to do, as everything is shut! and lets not complain about the price of flights, the taxi ride to the airport is often more expensive than the flight if you play the system. Its time to look back at what Majorca has done to itself over the past ten to fifteen years, it has become complacent as simple as that, you have management and politicians in charge here today who do not understand the word recession, let alone on how to deal with it, having been brought up in the seventy's and eighties when this Island was booming on the back of tourism, housing then European grants a bit later, the place was flying, and as for the old school brigade, all they did in the main were feather their beds, or should that be cells ?

Right now this Island needs strong leadership, even maybe from one of the stronger European Union Countries, a politician that has been in a financial fight, knows how to deal with this, and I reckon that could be the Germans, even if they do pinch all the sun beds.

With strong leadership, a bit of a kick up the backside to the complacency which is rife throughout the Island, maybe just maybe things will get better, Tourism and Industry has only left this island because there is better value for money elsewhere.

Leads onto our link with the Mainland, this is horrendously expensive by sea, but right now there is little that can be done, I note that one of the Ferry Companies are now departing earlier and going easier on the gas pedal, fuel being an expense that put paid to the two fast ferries of years ago. Give it a few more years and it could be back to sail! I personally think Majorca does not want the old fashion Tourism back, its quite happy with its nice new infrastructure thank you very much, unfortunately Paco and his goat farm is not going to pay for the Islands debt, so wake up and smell the coffee Majorca, its your Island, and whatever we may think, you will do what you like.

Billywhiz
Calvia