Tourist board chief apologises but calls grow for him to resign

PALMA

THE President of the Majorcan Tourist Board, Pedro Iriondo, was heavily criticised yesterday by all sectors of the tourist industry, both in Majorca and overseas, for the comments he made on Wednesday that easyJet and Ryanair “don't bring quality or business passengers” to the island and that “immigrant” workers in Majorca's service sector “can not sell the island.” Iriondo did issue an apology, claiming that he had not intended to offend any one, but from the President of the Balearic government, to the unions and even the UK travel industry, the over all opinion was that Iriondo is no longer fit for the job of President of the Majorcan Tourist Board.

President Antich said Iriondo is not the “most suitable person” to head the tourist board and described his comments as “unfortunate.” “A president of a tourist board can not make such statements especially when so many immigrants are working extremely hard in the tourist industry. “He should be supporting the tourist industry,” Antich proclaimed.
Palma City Council demanded an apology. City Hall sources slammed the comments as “irresponsible, considering that 40 percent of the population in Majorca was born outside of the Balearics “and what Iriondo is saying is that 40 percent should not be working in the tourist industry” the council claimed.

The Council also warned that, unless Iriondo issued a public apology, it would break off all relations with the tourist board.
The unions demanded that Iriondo immediately resigns because of his “xenophobic and racist” statements.
And the unions went a step further saying that Iriondo's criticism of low cost airlines eastJet and Ryanair and Internet bookings shows just how out of touch he is with the modern world of tourism and therefore, is not fit to be President of the tourist board.

But, Iriondo's statements also caused indignation overseas on the eve of the start of the tourist season.
Hugh Morgan, the Managing Director of Tour Operators for the Monarch Group said Iriondo's comments were “disgraceful” and said he should resign. “I can't believe some one in a position like that would make such comments,” he added.
However, while Iriondo did publicly apologise yesterday, he had made it clear that he will not stand down unless the rest of the board at the tourist board ask him to do so.

In a statement he denied he was “the bad guy” and defended his long career in the tourist industry, during which time he claims to have made many friends all over the world and been key in the staging of main events in Majorca such as the ABTA conventions.

He also underlined the fact he does not get paid to be President.
But, will it be enough to save his job?