Tourism Minister upbeat as Majorca fails to pick up

THE Balearic tourism industry is in “good health” according to Balearic Tourism Minister Celesti Alomar who, while tourism is down in Majorca, is particularly pleased that the number of people employed in the tourist sector has hit a record level, despite hoteliers offering staff the opportunity of early holidays because there is not enough work in some resorts. Alomar confirmed yesterday that, during the first six months of this year, tourism was down by just under two percent, 1.8%, and the Minister believes that the figures demonstrate that 2000 is a “good” year and that “there are no reasons for talk of a crisis.” Since the start of the year 4'413'024 people have passed through the Balearics' airports, 1.8 percent less than during the first six months of 1999. However, the overall decline is being caused by the 3.7 percent drop in the number of tourists to Majorca. Minorca has posted an increase in visitors of 6.7 percent and Ibiza 4.4 percent - so it is only Majorca which is having a hard time. While Alomar claimed that last month was even better than 1999*s “record breaking” June with an overall rise in tourism of 1.7 percent, Majorca experienced an 0.6 percent drop along with a 2.5 percent fall in Minorca.