MORE WINTER TOURISTS

By Jason Moore WELL the summer season is over (it officially closed yesterday) so that is it then until next Easter. Resorts will become ghost towns, the majority of hotel will close and the unemployment rate will rise. But why? I completely agree with Ian Morrison in his letter to the editor yesterday; why aren´t the local authorities doing more to promote the island as an all-year-around holiday destination? And instead of trying to move forward the islands appear to be going back. The Balearic government has decided to no longer help fund the PGA golf tournament which gave the island world-wide publicity at the tail-end of the season. Helping to sponsor this event didn´t come cheap but it was great promotion especially as the islands want to become an international centre for golf. This sport is also an ideal out-of-season past-time so really it should be promoted and the islands need a PGA event. In Calvia it appears that the council are waiting for funding from the local government to help pay for its winter in Majorca tourism programme. The Mayor has denied media reports that it was going to be cancelled. I am convinced that with a little imagination and with a united front these islands could attract quite a sizeable number of winter tourists. Even if the sun is not shining there is still plenty to do in the Balearics. Barcelona has become one of the favourite weekend destinations and I am sure that the Balearics could make more of its excellent shopping facilities, its fine restaurants, scenic countryside, the list is endless. So, come on these islands do not need to shut up shop just yet.