Tourism in winter

Dear Editor, I strongly support Mr. J. Pallister (Letters to the Editor, Daily Bulletin, January 19, 2006) who is complaining of the lack of T.I.B. bus route timetable cards. I got the last copy of the “horario” in the Tourist Information Office in Santa Ponsa last December (I could only get one copy), and after that, there are no more left! I'm studying my precious card with great interest and must admit it is a fine piece of work: very elaborate in many colours and lines, showing the routes and naming all stops. But I'm feeling sorry for all the travellers who have to read the arrivals and departures standing at the stops (where the card is shown on a column), trying to remember all the information for their planned trips. “Es un escándolo!” I would also like to see buses showing their numbers not just in front but also on the side where the passengers should enter, and preferably at the rear, so you can see which bus you have just missed. The Bulletin is eager to encourage winter tourism, and as a consequence will persuade more hotels and bars to stay open in winter. That shouldn't be necessary when there are plenty of empty beds and tables all over the Island. Rather take better care of a fewer number of guests, such as giving them the best south-facing rooms with fine views, instead of closing off these rooms to restore them at a snail's place over the winter months. Concerning the local authorities: when visiting the town hall in Calvia, a splendid and affluent “castle” paid for by the profits of the tourist industry, one can't help but think that more could be spent on improving facilities for the tourists. For example, repairing the footpaths along the shores in Santa Ponsa and copying and distributing the bus route timetable card. But after all this criticism, I'm eager to say that I'm very much enjoying my three-month winter stay here in Majorca! Jörgen Müller, Santa Ponsa