29/04/2014 00:00
TW
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New Rules
Dear Sir,
Quote: The Palma Council is responsible for the resorts of Arenal and Ca’n Pastilla where tourist behaviour and illegal street selling in recent seasons has worsened and stretched police resources. Surely this refers to the Playa de Palma and not Ca’n Pastilla which unless there has been a rapid decline, is relatively quiet and staid. If the police intend to enforce all these new rules there will need to be a heavy police presence which will only serve to alienate tourists.
The old adage: Beware of killing the goose that laid the golden egg, springs to mind.
Lee Hobson
UK

The all-inclusive holidays debate

Dear Sir,
The all-inclusive holiday has been under fire for some time now with varying views put forward depending on whether they help or hinder local trades. At the same time, Palma harbour has and is being extended to cater for larger liners carrying thousands of, Yes you got it!, all-inclusive holiday makers. Is it the intention to make liners stop serving meals whilst they are in harbour? And what about all those thousands of seamen that man the ships? I have read reports that reckon that a lot of people don’t even come ashore when the ships visit, shouldn’t they be taxed for not using shore-side facilities?
That said I do not take all-inclusive holidays because I like to visit various parts of the Island and not be tied to a hotel for daytime meals and drinks.

B. Quinlan

Dear Sir,
It’s typical of the socialist mentality to want to do something (crackdown), about all inclusive holidays. Just another reason why bureaucrats and politicians should never be let near the till.
When will these people learn? They say the only people to benefit are foreign travel agents and hoteliers. Really, what about the customer? they never once mention them. The hotels and bars are suffering aswell. When these bars offer a product suitable for the 21st Century perhaps they will cease to suffer. I came to Majorca on holiday 42-years-ago and many of these bars are still offering the same old 70’s product. Many of the young family groups have never heard of Benny Hill etc. The live entertainment on offer is mostly pathetic. Some people in the tourist industry here seem to think they have an entitlement to people’s business and think they have a captive market, think again people. There are plenty of alternatives to Majorca, easily accessible to today’s traveller. What was good enough 40 years ago is no longer acceptable. Wake up before it’s too late.

James Berry
Andraitx

Dear Sir,
Thank you for publishing my letter at the weekend and in your Viewpoint on that day, I was pleased to note that you broadly agreed with me regarding all-inclusive, to which I should like to point out an important feature not mentioned or overlooked.
It is, that the quality of alcoholic beverages served at all-inclusives, is poor and second rate. For instance, try asking for a ‘Johnnie Walker’ whisky, or a Gordon’s gin and see what is offered. In any event, good class hotels (4/5 Star) do not, on the whole offer all-inclusive tariffs, so you are left with those seeking the cheapest holiday that can be afforded, and in these so-called ‘hard times’, I do not blame them for their choice.
 Reverting to your Viewpoint, it is ironic but predictable that Ray Fleming should expose the opposite view that is, and can only be a futile call for action against all-inclusives, recognised by a responsible and pragmatic opinion.
 Yours Sincerely,
Phil Green
El Toro