The Majorca Hoteliers Federation used the London World Travel Market to issue a warning that there could be a loss of around a million tourists next year. At the travel fair, which ended on Wednesday, the federation argued that the loss will be because of the impact of the increased tourist tax and the rebound in demand for competitor destinations.
Gabriel Llobera, the acting president of the federation, has accused the government of not understanding the reality of its strategy - the imposition of the increased tax. "The ecotax will have a harmful effect," he said, noting that certain countries could also well devalue their currencies in order to go after tourists from key markets such as the UK and Germany. As noted previously, however, the scope for devaluation in Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey may well be limited because their currencies have already been devalued significantly or have depreciated markedly on the currency markets.
Abta is inclined to agree. Next summer will be "very different" to this summer because of heightened price sensitivity. Both Abta and the Majorca hoteliers believe that regardless of promoting the Balearics as a safe and quality destination, there will be a "transfer of tourists", many of whom have been "borrowed" by the Balearics in recent years because of geopolitical problems in the Mediterranean.
Tourism minister Biel Barceló was insisting that it is important not to consider the number of tourists but rather their profitability. Moreover, there needs to be greater distribution of tourists throughout the year because there cannot be further growth in the summer. "We've had three record seasons, and it is also the case that competing destinations are recovering."
While the minister appeared unconcerned about a potential loss of tourists, Thomas Cook was adding its voice to the criticisms of the hoteliers. The increase in the tourist tax is a "big mistake", said a source.
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Too many foreigners in U.K. and local is very good at google ,
Jake, read my comment again. I am not moaning, I am stating facts as to why I can not afford to visit Majorca after next year. For years now I have visited twice a year, I'm retired and not rich, but I simply can not afford to pay the prices tour operators/Hoteliers are asking. I pay the tourist tax on the Mainland, im happy to do so, also I'm happy to pay their prices for half board which is around 50% LESS than the hotels in Majorca want for self catering or bed and breakffast. I have lived and worked in the tourist industry in the UK so I am fully aware of the influx of 'Grockles' every year, who pay towards the wages of the 'local' workers.
Mallorca will always be special to me, I have always had local friends and we treat each other with respect. I am sad to see some comments on here and rudeness is not necessary. Of course in the South there are "chavs" as mentioned by our local contributor to this subject, and i can imagine it can be intolerable . This has been encouraged over the years by bar owners and locals who were only too happy to make money. I imagine the island is much quieter now until Easter time next year. Well think yourself lucky, in the UK it is never quiet. Too many cars, too many people on our island so stop whinging.
Hola Mallorquins.Just as in Catalunia, be careful what you wish for.Saludos.
Well that’s what they get for complain about over saturation this summer and the Anti-Tourist brigade! Hoteliers complained about private apartments so summer 2017 hotels were full we’re Hoteliers happy no! They complained about being over saturated so obviously Tourist can and will go elsewhere -The doubling of the Tourist Tax is Greed! So Hoteliers are only getting what they deserve and possibly summer 2019 will be even worse as tourists will get fed up with the Tourist Tax. They are slowly killing Mallorca as a tourist destination
So we Mallorcans can't write proper English, dear Mark? Do you think that we can't learn your language, which happens to be a global language by the way? Are we also supposed to be on donkeys, be short, dark and hairy? You Brits think of us like poor stupid natives. Let me tell you this, we are not. And you are not as superior as you think you are. We don't need your chavs here. We also don't need your condescending attitude. Ara et parlaré en mallorquí, no necessitam la gentussa que ens dueu a la nostra terra. También te lo puedo decir en castellano: no necesitamos a la chusma británica que nos traeis. Have a good day, Mark, enjoy your tea.
Some folks just aren't happy unless they have something - usually trivial - to complain about.I will watch for, with interest, the comments from our sad friends after the UK introduces their tourist tax next year. London, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester have it in the pipeline.They may also want to take on board that the proposed tax in London and Edinburgh will be introduced at a rate the Baleares has yet to reach.Ouch.
I've booked for next year and it will be the last. Majorca has certainly priced itself out of my market. My money (plus my family of six) will be saying hello to somewhere else. Majorca you're good - but not that good and remember even the rich require value.
So Jake, accusing people of being cheapskates for saying hotels have doubled their prices and dreaming that when these cheapskates have been priced out everything will be a bed of roses is just plain stupidity. There aren't enough rich people to make your dream come true and the rest of us no matter how much we earn still have a budget for a holiday no matter what size that budget is. If a hotel has doubled its price, then that money simply won't be going into the other parts of the economy such as local businesses, it isn't coming from the magic money tree. If the tourist tax doubles, then that money isn't going into the local economy either. Couple that with the apartment ban, not only will you have far fewer tourists but those that come spending far less so perhaps you might get half the tourists spending half the money. Enjoy the delights of mass unemployment given 40% of your economy is tourism
Local is local alright his English is too good to be a true local smells of expat to me ?