Humphrey CarterPalma05/08/2018 00:00
TW

Two very interesting and contrasting stories this week. The first is about a group of homeless people who have set up camp on Palma’s beach. There have been a few complaints from residents but on the whole they keep themselves to themselves and most tourists understand their predicament. No available social housing and no jobs, two of the group do work, the rest mind the camp - needs must as in every country of the world. They scavenge for food in supermarkets bins. One said that we have Africa dying of starvation and here we just throw all this food away - solid point.

The other contrasting story is that holidaymakers are flying to Majorca with the sole intention of spending their break by sleeping/living/dossing on a beach. That, I think, is taking the Michael (putting it mildly) and should not be allowed. The local authorities are doing all they can to promote sustainable tourism, ease the human footprint on the island and its natural resources, and encourage respectable tourism.

Yes, Majorca hotels are somewhat expensive compared to other European destination but if you can’t afford to come here, then don’t - go somewhere cheaper. Surely sleeping in a bed with hotel facilities is a lot more comfortable. Not everyone can have what they want. We all have to work within a budget and I would be somewhat cheesed off to be staying at a hotel for which I have paid good money only to see a bunch of holidaymakers on the beach in front of the hotel behaving like a bunch of dossers, with a d!