Othman Ktiri, founder of the OK Group and CEO of car-hire firm OK Mobility, acknowledges that hire cars are central to the current debate about the tourism model in Mallorca and the Balearics; there are calls for limits to the number of vehicles. He is firmly against limits.
"You can't reduce the number of hire cars if you don't increase public transport. Anything that involves limiting the offer once the tourist has arrived in the destination would lead to greater chaos. Let us remember the chaos that there was with taxis and with the microchip crisis, which caused a lack of rental vehicles. No firm brings a single car to the islands thinking that it is not going to be hired. In addition, not all hire cars serve tourists, they also serve many residents."
Ktiri applauds the appointment of Professor Antoni Riera as coordinator of the working parties for the Balearic government's pact for sustainability, the emphasis on data and the fact that decisions will not be made with haste.
"Wrong decisions could be made. The first thing that must be very clear is that what is happening in the Balearics is happening all over the world and in destinations of all kinds. The planet has a new challenge to ensure that everything remains sustainable."
But on data, exact figures for the number of vehicles for hire remain elusive. He rejects a suggestion that the sector suffers from a lack of transparency, referring to a survey of members by the Baleval association of car-hire firms that has sought to come up with figures. This was done anonymously because the question dealt with strategic data. A rough estimate of 100,000, he insists, "is a very rough estimate". "I haven't seen the report that has arrived at this number."
Othman Ktiri at the OK Group's Palma offices. Photo: Enrique Fueris.
Following a two-year stint, he recently quit as the president of Baleval. He took on the presidency at a time when the sector was being "demonised quite a bit". In his view it is not well known what the sector contributes to tourism and to society as a whole. "It is a vital sector for a greater distribution of wealth. Over two years we managed to increase the number of car-hire companies by 23%. We have promoted diversity and we have broken the cliché that Baleval is an association of large companies."
Ideally, he believes, there should be just the one association. Aevab is the other, Ktiri arguing that the two associations have more in common than that which separates them. "I am in favour of there being a single association that represents the sector because unity is strength. I have never fought with Aevab, but I have done what I have considered to be best for the sector."
A difference, he suggests, is that Baleval defends free competition while it can sometimes seem that Aevab wants to limit this.
Lionel BaileyTransfer buses continue to move people travelling on package holidays ( aka cattle class) to their hotels. The people booking hire cars at the airport are self organised travellers who, once at their destination, want to explore the island independently. In the old days coach excursions were all the rage, a visit to a glass factory followed by an arty crafty shopping center and finally a restaurant. These excursions have become so passe, so out of date that the only ones still using them were Russians ( until the war) or East Europeans. The package holiday travellers book their hire cars in the resort as and when needed for their days out. Look its too cloudy for the beach, lets go to Palma. People are so much more independent nowadays they will always expect to be able to rent a car. The only way to reduce the congestion is a forced reduction in numbers, the question is which numbers. Flights, tourist entry, tourist accommodation places, rental cars, port entry, take your pick.
Regarding this article, the hire car boss is not a turkey so he is not going to vote for Christmas.
BeachcomberSorry but it's the people "exploring the island" in rental cars that causes the chaos that we saw in Soller in April / May this year when the tunnel access to Soller had to be closed because of the tail backs of rental cars to Palmanyola!
There is no such thing as free and people should remember that. Everything has a cost and time element and the word free should be banned. Out of season the transfer shuttle buses don’t run so we always need to hire a car then but also do some exploring as the island is much quieter then. The crux to all this latest histiria is to reduce dramatically the number of all inclusive visitors and concentrate on the independent travellers and those staying in friends properties. However this would spark mass unemployment and the all inclusive hotels would never all it to happen. So Majorca it’s time to make your mind up.
Hilarious. The owner of a major car rental firm believes that restricting/reducing the number of rental cars will increase the chaos. Did the journalist really expect him to say anything else??
Perhaps hired cars should be limited to use on a maximum of four days in every seven?
Or follow the Bermuda model where visitors cannot hire cars at all
Anyone who thinks significant changes aren't needed urgently either doesn't know or doesn't love Mallorca
So, Improve Public Transport and train travel all over the Island.
Then reduce Hire Cars availability.
Increase taxatuon on Hire Cars.
Make ALL public transport free.for Residents.
Before the expanson of car hire companies ,most tourists get to their destination by transfer buses direct from airport ,of which their still more than enough..And he knows that.
9 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Chris GBut they are the ones that spend the money! The all-inclusive tourists staying in German-owned hotels contribute nothing.
Lionel BaileyTransfer buses continue to move people travelling on package holidays ( aka cattle class) to their hotels. The people booking hire cars at the airport are self organised travellers who, once at their destination, want to explore the island independently. In the old days coach excursions were all the rage, a visit to a glass factory followed by an arty crafty shopping center and finally a restaurant. These excursions have become so passe, so out of date that the only ones still using them were Russians ( until the war) or East Europeans. The package holiday travellers book their hire cars in the resort as and when needed for their days out. Look its too cloudy for the beach, lets go to Palma. People are so much more independent nowadays they will always expect to be able to rent a car. The only way to reduce the congestion is a forced reduction in numbers, the question is which numbers. Flights, tourist entry, tourist accommodation places, rental cars, port entry, take your pick. Regarding this article, the hire car boss is not a turkey so he is not going to vote for Christmas.
BeachcomberSorry but it's the people "exploring the island" in rental cars that causes the chaos that we saw in Soller in April / May this year when the tunnel access to Soller had to be closed because of the tail backs of rental cars to Palmanyola!
There is no such thing as free and people should remember that. Everything has a cost and time element and the word free should be banned. Out of season the transfer shuttle buses don’t run so we always need to hire a car then but also do some exploring as the island is much quieter then. The crux to all this latest histiria is to reduce dramatically the number of all inclusive visitors and concentrate on the independent travellers and those staying in friends properties. However this would spark mass unemployment and the all inclusive hotels would never all it to happen. So Majorca it’s time to make your mind up.
Hilarious. The owner of a major car rental firm believes that restricting/reducing the number of rental cars will increase the chaos. Did the journalist really expect him to say anything else??
Perhaps hired cars should be limited to use on a maximum of four days in every seven? Or follow the Bermuda model where visitors cannot hire cars at all Anyone who thinks significant changes aren't needed urgently either doesn't know or doesn't love Mallorca
Stan The ManPublic transport is free for residents. Buses in Palma are, and trains. Not sure about elsewhere on the island though.
So, Improve Public Transport and train travel all over the Island. Then reduce Hire Cars availability. Increase taxatuon on Hire Cars. Make ALL public transport free.for Residents.
Before the expanson of car hire companies ,most tourists get to their destination by transfer buses direct from airport ,of which their still more than enough..And he knows that.