Tourist industry would prefer fewer but wealthier clients

Palma.—At a meeting of the Balearic Confederation of Tourism Employers (CTPTB) in Palma yesterday were generally in agreement that the region’s  tourism model needs to change.
Delegates agreed that the Balearics would be better off with fewer tourists but wealthier ones. So far this year, the Balearics has been the only region in Spain to have suffered a decline in tourism spending, despite having a near record number of visitors.And, the idea was backed by the eco-nationalist party MES.
Party spokesperson, Biel Barcelo and MP David Abril agreed that the region needs to develop a more prosperous tourism model which eases the pressure on local natural resources, the environment and the quality of people’s lives.
“Over the past few years, we may well have welcomed record numbers of tourists, but every year, hundreds of resort businesses are being forced to close and that hits local families and suppliers and leads to a prolonged lack of consumer confidence and unemployment,” MES said.
And, what was made blatantly clear at the meeting is that the all inclusive resorts are causing the most damage to the local business community and even the economy.