Hotels batten down for winter

Hotels across the Balearics are rapidly closing their doors for the winter with many waiting to see how booings and demand shape up for next season before deciding when to re-open. The Majorcan Hotel Federation has again blamed the local government's tourism policy and attitude for the disastrous year and very few hoteliers are prepared to take a gamble by staying open this winter. Last winter 30 per cent less hotels were open than in winter 2000 and this winter, there will be 58 per cent less hotels in operations. In resorts such as Camp de Mar there will be 13 per cent fewer hotels open and along the Playa de Palma there will be 20 per cent less hotels staying open over the winter. Despite the government desire to promote winter tourism and decentralise the tourist industry, with hardly any hotels open and little effort being made to entertain winter tourists, considering the islands cannot offer winter sun, winter tourism remains a non starter. Many of the hotels open last winter in Palmanova and Magalluf are cutting their loses, bad news for the local bar, restaurant and commercial sector. Hotel Federation president Pedro Cañellas admits that closing for the winter is going to be tough for hoteliers, but with demand for winter holidays in Majorca well down on previous years, staying open is not financially viable.