Island business doomed?

Dear Editor, REGARDING your news item on page 3 of Wednesday's Bulletin dated October 12, about the Balearic Government Tourism Committee setting up a work group to investigate the repercussions of the all-inclusive package holidays on the Balearic economy. The simple answer to that is, it is DISASTROUS. How can Pere Sampol criticize the PP (Partido Popular) party when the PSM (Majorcan Socialist) party was in power for several years when the tragedy that has finally hit the island so badly could have been dealt with in the early years without the desperation of the situation as it is now. The first hotel to have the all-inclusive in 1980/81 was the Honolulu in Magalluf because the owner had been to the Caribbean on holiday and liked the concept. BUT, this island is safe everywhere, not like the Caribbean where it is not safe to leave the hotel complex. The Calle Pinada in front of the Honolulu was always a very busy street, but within weeks of the introduction there of the all-inclusive the street died. I know because my apartment was in that street and I have watched many businesses die in the years to follow. Just as they have died elsewhere on the island as more and more hotels jump on to the bandwagon. I can also say that the quality of the all-inclusive offer has declined over the years. For example who wants to drink out of plastic cups. Also friends of mine were in one of those hotels and it was very expensive in my opinion. Most holidaymakers never leave their hotel so how can the small businesses survive, which to my mind is the beauty of the island with the variety of places to eat and drink outside the hotel environment and also shops to visit. The only people making money are the hoteliers and their suppliers. Even their staff are suffering because they no longer get their tips as was normal before, but work every bit as hard. Particularly the Tour Companies who promote it and I have been told, originally they told their clients to bring ten pounds Sterling for emergencies only, so the intention was that the holidaymaker should not leave the hotel. I am also aware that the hoteliers really do not get very much for accommodating the tourist. Personally, I feel it should be against the law to deny small businesses their normal business prospects. I know for a fact that particularly over the last three or four years, there has been a steady slide in profits with more and more businesses closing. The council and government are also the losers in the end, because when a business fails they do not get their taxes. So we are all suffering. I am also aware that a lot of people will never do it again, especially the older people who want to go out and about. If, as the article says, the present 36 percent will increase to 90 percent in the next three or four years, it seems that certain areas in the tourist industry want to see the economy of the island die. The government should ban this type of tourism and go back to the days when everyone benefited from the tourist and not just the powerful few. If 36 percent is affecting the economy now what will 90 percent do???? It is interesting that in your article ”Spanish Fury Over Nuclear Submarine Comments” (Daily Bulletin Thursday 13 October), the supposed effects of a “Chernobyl-style” accident at Gibraltar are described, with descriptions of possible effects in Algeciras and La Linea, while no mention is made of a similar scenario involving one of the many reactors already on Spanish, rather than British property. I passed one of these only last week in the form of a nuclear power station on the River Ebro in Catalunya, just south of Flix. There are many others, I believe. More than a touch of double standards exhibited in the Spanish objections and in your report, I think.