Your views

I cannot understand how the hoteliers assume that if one takes the total arrivals at Palma airport and subtract the number staying in the hotels one is left with the number staying in illegal lets. Surely a considerable number of people will be going on cruises and others will be going to their own houses/flats as well as the Majorquins returning to their own island.
What I find interesting about illegal lets is that the subject has never, to my knowledge, received any mention in the UK press and therefore I would think that 99% of the renters are unaware that they have rented a flat illegally. I wonder what would happen if a renter was killed or severely injured by bad electrical wiring or gas installation etc as I would think that the owner’s insurance company would wash their hands of the matter due to the illegality of the rental leaving the poor victim in a terrible position.
Alister Bottomley
Pollensa

Dear Sir,

I recently had to drive from the Playa de Palma through Palma via Plaza Gomila to the restaurant Meson son Caliu in Calvia and back via the cathedral. The journey was a lesson in recent tourism history.
I hadn’t been through that part of Palma town for years and it brought back memories. The area used to be the place, hopping at night and crammed with niche restaurants and bars like Riki’s and Big Mo’s. These are now abandoned and desolate much like Arenal and Can Pastilla. The area is run down and if you didn’t know better (i.e. you’re a tourist) looks positively dangerous. One positive was a plush looking Conference Centre which must be major competition for our town hall’s current business adventure/gamble. The lesson it demonstrates is that no location can rest on its laurels. Hopefully this trend is about to be reversed both on the Playa de Palma and Magalluf.
Menu del Dia at the restaurant was excellent value and the shaded garden area just perfect for this getting together of old friends. The service was first class and there was no rush to hurry us as our reminiscences may have dragged on a little. Our island is blessed with a multitude of similar good value and attractive venues.
I drove back along the coast and was reminded of great quantity of luxury tourism we already have – row after row of yachts some with helicopter pads. I have never understood the apparent dichotomy our Tourist Board has had over decades handling “upper, middle and lower class” tourism. Prior to affordable air travel we only had top tourism and little of that. The likes of Errol Flynn and Princess Grace of Monaco didn’t fill more than a couple of hotels. This top tourism has grown exponentially as have the other types and it is these latter that generate the bulk income we depend on.
Like your Viewpoint last Friday I see little difficulty in juggling altogether on our unique Majorca.

Mike Lillico
Playa de Palma