This is one finding from the survey by Homo Turisticus, a debate platform that is committed to a more balanced tourism. Nine hundred people were surveyed, and only eleven per cent were of the view that more tourism would mean a better standard of living (the rest were don't knows).
The author of the accompanying report is one of the founders of Homo Turisticus, Joan Enric Capellà, a university geography professor in Palma and a co-founder of Som Hotels.
"The traditional tourism model is exhausted. This is a very clear message. People are clear that tourism will continue to be the economic engine of the Balearics, but they are asking for a transformation so that it does not have a negative impact on residents themselves.
"Mallorca has been putting all its eggs into one basket for too long. The time has come to build another basket." Accepting that alternatives will not be as large as tourism, he cites the example of the Netherlands. "It is one of the European powers in the agri-food sector*, and we should bet on that sector as a complement." It is an area with great potential through investment in technology.
"We should not wait for the government to guide us on how to make this economic change because each one of us, to a greater or lesser extent, can make changes to change the model. It is always easier to blame the administration because it is impersonal."
* According to the Balearic Government's 2023 agriculture yearbook, agri-food - the value chain of food production - represented 4.4% of regional GDP. The director-general for agriculture, Fernando Fernández, has set a target of seven per cent for the coming years.
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Revisiting the autonomo system would be a start. Then at least young entrepreneurs would stand a chance of starting a business legally. The costs are crippling, before people even start to pay tax. And there’s little or no differentiation between the size of a business. Young businesses don’t really stand a chance.
The question people should be asking is how long is too long. It wasn’t so long ago that Majorca had a very vibrant and profitable agricultural sector, think oranges, olives, almonds etc. It also had a very large and successful shoe manufacturing industry, as well as a leather goods industry. The furniture industry was a big employer and who hasn’t heard about Majorcan pearls ? I understand the pork industry and its products were very well regarded as well. They were also world beaters in smuggling and hoodwinking foes and allies alike. People still eat oranges, olivesh, almonds and pork chops, still wear shoes and belts and pearls and generally still carry on sitting and lying down. And what to say about recreational drugs? What happened ? What went wrong ? Beachcomber ?
AmbergrilloAnd their imported workers, which would make the population overcrowding problem even worse, not to mention other things we are not allowed to talk about. Anyone who thinks that the native population is going to start picking potatoes, or any other crop for that matter, need their heads examining. They don’t even want to do menial work in the hospitality industry, for Ch..ts sake ! The yachting industry, with its maintenance and repair offshoots, has been one of the only real “diversification” that has shown any promise, and even this has had spokes put in its wheels by all the local governments. Why ? Because a vast majority of the people involved in same don’t or can’t vote.
People. Wake up. There are no other eggs or baskets that Mallorca can produce to support the population at present. Selling potatoes isn't going to benefit anybody but a few farmers in Sa Pobla
Would the question ‘would LESS tourism improve your standard of living’ be more pertinent?
Richard PearsonMaybe those living in the woods behind Pagurea Richard. But agriculture seriously in an isolated island with limited water . IT , programming, fintech maybe, but agriculture?…
And who, may I ask, is going to do the dirty work ?
Previous Governments could/should have seen this coming. All members of those past Governments are responsible for not taking measures to diversify Mallorca's economy and its income streams and for relying too heavily on tourism. I hope each and every one reflects on this.
Yes Majorca does need to produce and export more agricultural produce. Over the last 5 years residents in Winchester, southern England have been able to enjoy Sa Pobla new potatoes which are eagerly awaited from the middle of March. Residents in this prosperous town are happy to pay £3 per pound for this excellent product. It shows that Majorca can produce and export high quality food and sell at a premium to help diversify. The link was British 2nd home owners and visitors who asked for them to be brought to the UK. So Majorca needs to do more like the French farmers that founded Brittany Ferries to export their produce to the UK where people have the money and are willing to pay premium prices. So be much more proactive Majorca if you want to diversify and prosper.