HIGH STREET SHOP STRIKE WILL DAMAGE LOCAL TOURISM

Staff reporter THE Majorcan Hoteliers' Federation yesterday voiced concern over the strikes planned by shop workers for the days of 29 September and 6 October. They described the stoppages, organised by a group of unions, as casting a “negative” shadow over the tourist image of the Balearics. “All strikes are potentially damaging to the holiday industry, although they will be taking place almost at the end of the high season” said Antoni Fuster, a spokesman for a business organisation. The only possibility that the trade sector of the island has to avoid the strikes would be if Union representatives reached an agreement with the management at a Balearic Mediation Tribunal. The dispute is mainly over opening hours. The hotels on the Islands, that each year contribute about half a million beds to the holiday industry, are registering an occupancy rate of between 75 and 85 percent at the moment, depending on the area. According to Fuster, “there are establishments such as those in the Playa de Palma, which will bring forward their closing dates owing to the fact that the level of bookings is lower than in other years, but in any event, it will be necessary to wait and see how business is during October”. Many hotels, especially those located in the Playa de Palma, open their doors out of season in order to accommodate clients, such as parties of pensioners, on social services subsidised holidays.