Majorca hoteliers put their cards on the table

The Majorcan hotel sector made it clear yesterday that it is prepared to discuss local environmental problems with the Balearic government, but on a non-political basis, ahead of the government's bid to get the tourist tax successfully through parliament. Ignasi Esteve, vice president of the Majorcan Hotel Association, and a stern critic of the tourist tax, said yesterday “the tourist tax is not the correct tool and will have a negative affect on the Balearic tourist industry, but if the Balearic government wants to rectify its position and that we all sit down to try and solve the region's environmental and tourism problems without involving politics, we are prepared to talk.” But the olive branch, ruled out any chance of talks between the two parties about the tourist tax, the hoteliers have made that clear from the start and are not prepared to change their stance.