21/08/2013 00:00
TW
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Staff Reporter

PALMA
THE Majorca Tourism Board (Fomento del Turismo) are pleased with the change of attitude in the current Balearic Government in comparison with the last coalition government which took office in 1999.

According to the Board's President Alvaro Middelmann, speaking after a meeting with Francesc Antich, leader of the Balearic Government, confirmed that “there has been a change of attitude towards the tourism and business world. And this is more positive”.

Middelmann said that the tourist sector is very pleased with the improvement in its relationship with the Balearic Government.
On being asked about this change in comparison with the tensions which existed during the last coalition government (also headed by Antich) Middelmann said, “there is more sensitivity and more willingness to cooperate”.

According to Middelmann, during the meeting with Antich “there was absolute agreement in the opinions of the leader of the government and the tourism companies about the importance of tourism at all levels of Balearic society”.

At the meeting were representatives of the Majorcan Hoteliers Federation, Afedeco (the shopkeepers association), AENA (the Spanish Airports Authority), the associations for private transport companies and catering, Aviba (the travel agents association), the Majorca Convention Bureau and finance companies. Middelmann also indicated that they had spoken with Antich about questions related to the Playa de Palma, all year round tourism, diversification and the Museum of Tourism, “which the government supports”, he said.

With regard to the interisland flights and certain flights to the Spanish mainland, Middelmann said that Antich, “shares our anxiety that the airlines have to find a formula which will satisfy the requirements of those who live here”. He also said he considered it “unjust” that citizens from outside the European Union were not able to benefit from the residents discounts, and underlined the necessity to make this “universal” and allow them the discount “because they work here and pay their taxes”.