It won’t be winter/sun or even new attractions which finally pushes Majorca to its goal of more winter tourists, it will be sport. Yes, cyclists, hikers, runners, tennis players and golfers are all helping to put the island on the map again as a winter destination. More hotels are opening for longer and it is only a question of time before we see a sizeable number being open throughout the year. Times are changing. Some hotels are being transformed into centres for cyclists, others are pushing for golf tourism. Yesterday, I was speaking to one quite major hotelier and he was telling me that he is convinced that the Majorcan winter sports boom will lead to more flights. In fact, he believes that it is just a question of supply and demand. It is interesting to see that the island is finally moving away from just being a bucket and spade destination. Granted this part of the tourism package probably makes up 80 or even 90 per cent of the total but things are changing. The fact that the island is far quieter during the winter months is working in Majorca’s favour, especially when it comes to cyclists. Now, I still believe that the island could do far more to attract more winter tourists. I was pleased to hear that the local ministry for tourism is planning to promote the island at more specialised trade fairs and not just the big few which are aimed exclusively at beach and sea tourism. It will be quite amazing if cycling and other sports actually made Majorca a winter destination again.
No winter blues
01/10/2015 00:00
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6 comments
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Nothing will change, someone does not want it to. My money is on the hotel mafia. I hope it does but I am not holding my breath.
Shows how out of touch they are with Tourism Promotion. Trade Fairs are archaic. I would love to see an advert on the tube station in London showing the beauty of Mallorca. I see every other country in the world but NEVER Mallorca. They had Becker, Claudia Schiffer, Richard Branson ... but they drove them away, they still visit today but not actively invest anymore - that was all FREE promotion. When are they ever going to employ someone who understands effective PR/Marketing. Sadly Jason, ..... small island mentality will always be the downfall of Mallorca. London is now suffering from it as we rejected last week the opening of the Tour De France. Transport For London rejected it .... madness for the economy, free worldwide PR. They will fine everyone running businesses saying that they are committing tax fraud, as we know in this country we pay the fine first as they embargo all the accounts and then we try and appeal our case. Every expat knows how simple it would be to create a blossoming island twelve months a year.
It is much to be welcomed. The two main rugby facilities in the Calvia area are very good once you get used to the artificial surface, and can take greater capacity for visiting sides. I've heard nothing of progress about the cricket club after they were chucked off their land near Magaluf and that's a shame because they were able to attract visiting teams during spring and autumn. I also spoke a while back to someone who runs a dance studio and who tried to find a hotel that was prepared to take something like 20 couples a week while he ran winter ballroom etc. courses but no hotel was interested so he had to give up on it. Hopefully that blinkered attitude will begin to change. The cycling tourism seems to be going very well, and most of it is properly run to avoid too much conflict between cyclists and motorists. There's nothing worse when driving carefully up all the hairpins on the narrow road up to Galilea than to encounter cycles coming at you three abreast at well over 60 kph! I'm surprised there have been no fatal accidents on that route.
It is much to be welcomed. The two main rugby facilities in the Calvia area are very good once you get used to the artificial surface, and can take greater capacity for visiting sides. I've heard nothing of progress about the cricket club after they were chucked off their land near Magaluf and that's a shame because they were able to attract visiting teams during spring and autumn. I also spoke a while back to someone who runs a dance studio and who tried to find a hotel that was prepared to take something like 20 couples a week while he ran winter ballroom etc. courses but no hotel was interested so he had to give up on it. Hopefully that blinkered attitude will begin to change. The cycling tourism seems to be going very well, and most of it is properly run to avoid too much conflict between cyclists and motorists. There's nothing worse when driving carefully up all the hairpins on the narrow road up to Galilea than to encounter cycles coming at you three abreast at well over 60 kph! I'm surprised there have been no fatal accidents on that route.
This is the same old broken record you have been playing for years,yet still the season gets shorter and shorter,bars and hotels close,people are back on the dole queue and come October,holiday resorts look like ghost towns,nothing changes.
This is the same old broken record you have been playing for years,yet still the season gets shorter and shorter,bars and hotels close,people are back on the dole queue and come October,holiday resorts look like ghost towns,nothing changes.