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Dear Sir, I am writing to express my dismay about two things: a. The continued tourist tax b. The children on motorised scooters at Cala Bona and Cala Millor

My husband and I come to Majorca four times a year, on a Thomson package holiday. We love Majorca and have been coming regularly for at least six years. Each time we stay in a hotel, buy all our food and gifts in local shops, drink in local bars, spend money on local buses. Therefore, we were extremely irritated, having heard that the tourist tax had been abolished, to be charged yet again, 28 euros at the hotel Levante in Cala Bona when we arrived on July 31. In the last year we have paid the tourist tax for 10 days in Camp de Mar, 7 days in Ca'n Picafort, 7 days in Puerto Pollensa and 14 days in Cala Bona. We don't drop litter or pollute your beaches, we fully subscribe to the local recycling, we try to fit in and speak a little Spanish, which is always well received, so WHY are we having to pay a tax on coming on holiday? We are now in our 60s and have the choice to go anywhere in the world. Although we love Majorca I am quite sure that we can grow to love somewhere else where there isn't a tourist tax. I think Majorca needs the tourists more than the tourists need Majorca. My second grumble is about the children on motorised scooters on the pedestrian areas of Cala Bona, particularly those from the bike shop by the Levante. There appears to be no restriction on speed and we were not the only people grumbling about how miserable it was to try and walk on the pavements there. Some of these children go far too fast and have little or no control over the motorbikes and scooters. I am sorry to say that there will soon be a serious accident if better controls are not enforced. We love your island and its people and always treat our surroundings with respect.
I hope you will pass my feelings on at a government meeting.

Yours faithfully, Susan M. Roberts
Cardiff
(Copy of a letter sent to the Minister of Tourism)


Clean Up Majorca
Dear Sir, The comment made on Wednesday, by deputy Mayor and EMAYA President, Antoni Nadal about the rubbish that turns up on our beaches is part of a “natural phenomena” is laughable. Having witnessed the beauty, and rubbish, of many of the island beaches over the past two months it is through acts of irresponsible island residents that is the major contributing factor to the problem. Large amounts of plastic supermarket bags litter most of our beaches and waters. Unless some of our local supermarkets have suddenly expanded and opened stores in France and Gibraltar over the last couple of months the problem starts here on the island. In other countries around the world there are severe financial penalties that are strictly enforced such as in Singapore. Here in Majorca it appears very natural for the locals to empty their car ashtray whilst waiting at the red lights or dispose of their rubbish through the car window. The freeway which connects Palma and Inca is another every day reminder of the extent of the rubbish problem on the island. Mr Nadal would be better tackling the issue by challenging the Balearic Government to coordinate a designated “Cleanup Majorca Day”.

There are many residents and organisations who would happily donate part of a day to tackle this problem.

The success of such a day will need a well recognised local to be the front person, an extensive media campaign leading throughout the lead up, company sponsorship to provide collection receptacles, education in our schools to teach children about the negative effects on our environment together with less tourism and governments combining with law enforcement agencies to ensure laws are in place and enforced. If Mr Nadal thinks this is all too hard please let me know so I can give him some names of residents who would be willing to tackle this issue.
Christopher Jackson.
Genova