This summer, notes the vice-president of the hoteliers association, José Antonio Fernández de Alarcón, Palma town hall provided police strength which, "while it was not spectacular, did mean a more or less constant police presence". In winter, however, it is a different matter. Hoteliers, he says, have made an effort to keep their establishments open, but "what is the point of promoting tourism in winter, if we can't have something as essential as security?". "There are no officers on the streets. Surveillance is conspicuous by its absence."
According to the association, an organised gang of criminals has been "running wild" since the main tourism season ended and the police numbers were reduced. Over recent weeks, there have been numerous thefts, especially phones from people who are mugged and items from hire cars that have their windows smashed.
Fernández de Alarcón claims that after dark "there are no officers". "They're all gone." The association is collecting complaints from individuals affected by robberies and will present these to the police, both Palma and National. A problem, he adds, is that "many of those who are robbed are tourists and they often don't report robberies". Hoteliers are holding talks with car-hire companies, so that they can together make a demand that the town hall complies with its obligations to maintain a police presence.
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Fred GrahamI agree. If there were more flights from England and Scotland, more Brits would likely come in winter. That would be good. And it wouldn't likely be the drunken yob types. But the British resorts are also largely boarded up, so it's not particularly attractive. Chicken and egg. Elsewhere... the fincas, villas and rural hotels are (as usual) fairly well booked with continental Europeans, and there are regular flights from most major airports across Europe. But they're coming for different reasons. Mainly to get away from the cold North, to work remotely, get in some golf, cycling, hiking, equestrian activities, shopping, sightseeing, or just chilling... Yes, there are a few Germans who end up in playa de Palma, so a few things are open there. But not much. Unfortunately, it seems that the bad elements are still around the arenal area. They're like cats. If there's something to eat, they hang around. Otherwise, they go elsewhere. We need not go into what happens in Magaluf when the easy prey shows up. There just isn't any right now. I suspect it's more a matter of simple demand. The majority of British tourists just aren't that interested in what winter Mallorca has to offer, and that may explain why there's so few flights, and consequently, why the favourite British resorts are largely shut. Not enough demand.
Winter tourist ! I wish ! For years and years and MORE YEARS no flights from Scotland and the north of England. We had a nightmare journey from Edinburgh in November. Arrival at Edinburgh Airport at 4:10am on a Sunday then into Palma the next day ( Monday) at 9am ,when we should have been there at 12:35 Sunday, just because the intercom on the Ryanair flight from Edinburgh was not working and I understand completely because of safety but throughout the ordeal, no communication for anyone. “The moan of the day” So if there was more direct flights from the North ,more tourists would come in the winter , then more things would open , therefore more police, more car hire ,more taxis, more money Etc etc , the interesting thing about the journey there was Scots and those from “The North” that where doing the many jumps trip to Mallorca. So there is business there , I just wish that there was a movement to lobby the Airlines , but I believe that would be of no use as airlines don’t listen even though Ryanair are in line to make over a billion euros this year. Yours Fred Graham
Could it be that winter tourists are simply less problematic than summer tourists? The majority of winter tourists don't go to the (closed down) resorts... for obvious reasons.