Does the change in space, all of half a metre, really make a huge difference in terms of use of the public way by pedestrians? It will make a huge difference to terraces which might disappear, so why is there such an argument over fifty centimetres? It was the Partido Popular who referred to a terraces war, one that had been started by the current town hall administration when it took office and took aim at terraces along the Born.
Tramuntana arguments
Brussels is currently on environmental alert with regard to Tramuntana Mountain exclusion zones. The regional government has to explain a lifting of restricted access to the zones on the Ternelles finca in Pollensa. The government and Pollensa town hall were both arguing that the zones were being used as an excuse by the owners (the March family) to prevent access. The family and the Mediterranean Wildlife Foundation, which had complained to Brussels and which also now conducts guided hikes in Ternelles, were accused of having "personal interests", and Brussels was told as much.
The mountains didn't attain World Heritage Status because of environmental reasons but because of the centuries of (multi) cultural heritage. Much has of course been made of this Unesco honour. But does it have much impact? There was a report of a survey of German hikers which concluded that, much though the hikers enjoy the mountains, the heritage status makes no difference to their decision to visit.
Tourist spending
Egatur, the survey of tourist spending, is a statistical exercise that often leaves readers in a state of disbelief. When Egatur says that average tourist spending is X, the reaction is that it is nothing like X in certain resorts. But anything can be proved with the right statistics of course, and so the finding from 2017 that holiday rental tourists spend on average almost 24% more than tourists in hotels was latched onto by the Aptur holiday rentals association.
Much though the Egatur survey is criticised, its principal purpose for balance of payments use means that it must be reasonably sound. As for the higher spending by tourists staying in rentals, this was surely a finding that mostly everyone would think was obvious.
More on zoning
Palma town hall, meanwhile, was taking on an outside company to help it decide zoning for rentals in the city. While the rest of the island has been carved up by the Council of Majorca, Palma does its own zoning. The Council, reeling to some extent in the face of the opposition to the zoning, was suggesting that future licences that will allow for a maximum of sixty days tourist rental per annum may cost less than licences for 365 days a year properties.
Tourist tax and tourist loss
With predictions having been made as to potential loss of tourists because of the increased tourist tax, we drew attention to academic research on this loss. The work by researchers at the university in Palma suggested there could be up to a 0.9% loss. The problem with the research was that it didn't consider 2017, when the number of tourists went up by six per cent. It was also based on the old rate of the tax. We all wait to see what this year brings in reality.
And there was of course a fair amount of weather. The snow fell, it was cold, it was wet, it was windy. Despite all the rain, we learned that there are still two areas of Majorca - South Tramuntana and Manacor-Felanitx - which are on pre-drought alert.
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I visit yearly and the Tourist tax to me isn't a problem it's just added on to the cost when we decide if we can afford the holiday. The real problem for me is the sudden increase in the cost of the holidays being charged by the tour operators. Now I know they are not solely to blame but if the Hoteliers keep raising their prices then that will be me and plenty of others looking elsewhere. Since the reduction in the private rentals the hoteliers have jumped in with price increases.
Hi Majorca daily.I read about the NEW tourist tax and i must say, it feels like we not are welcome anymore. We have been on majorca 9 years in a row, spendt 6700 EURO for 2 weeks vacation the last 9 years, total 60402 EURO and now we have to pay even more, is this fair??From a tourist that really love majorca.