06/12/2013 00:00
TW
0

Dear Editor, IN relation to your editorial regarding the non-existent winter season on the Island, I would like to make the following points.
As the owner of a business which is directly related to the tourist industry, I would be delighted if the season were longer, and even better, all the year round, but realise that this is not possible within certain tourist areas.

Firstly, I think we forget that as more hotels close in the sun, sea and beach parts of the island, more and more upmarket hotels are opening and staying open all the year round, especially those in or near Palma. It may be possible that there are now more beds available in the winter than 10 years ago.

Secondly, somebody living on the mainland cannot just jump in their car and come here, unlike say a Londoner who wants to spend a long weekend on the coast or in the country. Indeed, it is probably more expensive to come and return to the mainland than it is to fly from the UK or Germany. These people have jobs and children to take to school, so coming here for only 3 days is not an option if a ferry or flight has to be paid for.

Thirdly, and possibly the most important factor, the Spanish labour laws actively discourage business owners hiring staff unless the business in question knows that they will be busy for a prolonged period of time. There is no hiring and firing clause, so who in their right minds is going to hire staff for a minimum of 3 months without being 100% sure that they can pay them?

Until the Spanish government and unions, realise that this is one of the major factors of unemployment in this country, especially in tourist areas, I personally cannot foresee a change in hotel chains policy regarding winter opening in Majorca. Yours sincerely, Simon Tow