Spanish tour operators say campaign is too late

The Balearic Ministry for Tourism's promotional campaign on the mainland, according to leading Spanish tour operators yesterday, “is too late.” Spanish bookings for the Balearics are down by between ten and 14 per cent on last summer and the tour operators claim that the PR drive may help to boost bookings for July and August, but do little to help revive the market for the next six weeks. The German market is still down 20 per cent, and, some sources said yesterday, “still dropping.” “Unless the British market performs as well as the Balearic government predicts, it's not going to be a good summer.” Minister Alomar said that Palma is just 25 minutes flight away from Barcelona, but one of the biggest problems mainlanders have with the Balearics, especially Majorca, is the high cost of living.