“In the last twenty-four hours all of the hotel chains have received a string of cancellations from all the issuing markets, which breaks the recovery trend that we've had since the end of the Pilot Plan in Mallorca,” said ACH President Gabriel Llobera. “It was the worst moment to adopt the measure, because in the issuing markets there is a feeling that there is a problem and the German Tourist Group, TUI, has already told us that’s what has caused the cancellation of hotel reservations. You have to be very careful with this type of regulation, even more so when all businessmen are caught by surprise,” he added.
Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, CEO of Meliá and President of the Alliance for Exceltur Tourism Excellence, went further.
“In the last 48 hours the rate of reservations to Catalonia and the Balearic Islands has slowed down significantly because having to bring a mask is not attractive,” he said. "This measure should have been agreed with the affected parties, because given the need to constantly wear a mask, tourists have opted for other Spanish coastal destinations that are not as strict,” he said.
Maria Frontera, President of the FEHM, said she hopes the Government will have a change of heart.
“If the distance of 1.5 metres is respected a mask is not necessary and given what’s happening we hope that the Government reconsiders the regulation that obliges people to wear a mask.”
Palma
Palma Hoteliers have also voiced their concerns about the negative impact the new face mask regulation is having.
“There is a slowdown and once again we have had more cancellations than reservations at 5-Star, Urban and Boutique Hotels in Palma,” said President Javier Vich. “What’s astonishing is that we were not asked what the potential impact of a measure like this might be on the British and German markets, before it was adopted.
Hotel owners say they tried to explain to the Government what could happen if the mandatory mask regulation was implemented.
“This is a political decision, which we hope will be reconsidered. If we are a safe destination from an epidemiological point of view, the tightening of health controls for residents and tourists is not normal,” they said.
Small, medium and large hoteliers on the Islands agree that “all control measures must be taken in areas where concentrations occur. In hotels, anti-Covid-19 checks are strictly enforced and tourists are responsible for knowing what they have to do when they leave.”
Alfonso Robledo, President of Restauración Mallorca, CAEB, said the Government's new face mask rule is very bad for his Sector.
“This regulation was implemented without consulting the Economic Sector, it harms the productive fabric and it could be the tip of the iceberg, because there is a fear of entering premises,” he said
FEHM, ACH and CAEB claim that making it compulsory to wear a mask in the Balearic Islands is headline news in Europe.
"The damage has already been done and we expect the Government to act," Robledo said.
13 comments
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Not Rocket Science, surely ? Government points revolver at foot, pulls trigger, then bemused by sudden limp. Looks like a season-saving relaxation is already irrelevant, due to Air Bridge cancellation, anyway.
would not dream of Mallorca hotel with a mask no way The island will die a death
Everyone thinks that this pandemic is over or tourist think that is over once the land, and not wearing a mask is not sexy, or not attractive, ..but when the lock down returns, let's see whats attractive and sexy then, tourist acting like they never been no where before, no mask, no social distancing. Enjoy your vacation while it last, because it will be your last for a while!
I'm here now, will not wear mask other than in shops no matter what. Stop me, fine me, I don't care THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND I HAD NO CHANCE TO CANCEL IN TIME AS THEY WAITED UNTIL WE ALL RE BOOK HOLIDAY!!!!!!! WHAT A JOKE!!!!!
I think that these tourists are totally out of line. Why would you cancel a holiday because you have to wear a mask. Ignoring this issue isn't going to wish the virus away. For Germans to cancel, when they are required to wear a mask in Germany, is a complete joke. Get on the plane and stop whining. Meanwhile, I am flying to the island tomorrow and will enjoy the beach without you.
Tourists are cancelling. People will not enjoy their holidays if they do come. The word will spread. They’ve killed tourism on the island.Masks for shops and the airport is fine. Sadly, this is going to kill this season, maybe even next?Tourists will book where people don’t look scary and the message is there is a problem.Crazy. And the kept the tourist tax .... they’re driving people away.
Agree with Andrew Hamilton, booked for trip in September but will cancel if the mask issue is confirmed. Absolutely top heavy in my opinion but can understand reasoning but too late coming. This will have a considerable detrimental on visitor numbers, you either want business or just close your island. It’s simple.
I' ve read on internet that the main motivation of the new face mask rule was to control or ban botellons at night. So thanks to a minority of morrons the tourist season is again under threat We rebooked from May to September but will cancell if this ridiculous law will be maintained. We have the same in Belgium where youngsters re group after closing of the bars at 1 am and police do not even fine them,
I cant believe people are cancelling holidays because you have to wear a mask when walking the streets?? Hardly a inconvenience is it?
Call me crazy, but I am going to asume that this have nothing to do with health and safety, and that the only reasons are Armengols political agendas. Crazy, right? I know.