Chairman of world´s n.1 tour company gives his verdict on tourist tax

David Crossland, Chairman of Airtours (the world's largest travel company), gave the clearest indication last night that the Balearic Government may be playing with fire over their plans to introduce a controversial tourist tax. He said that Majorca was in danger of pricing itself out of the highly competitive tourist market. Mr Crossland, speaking exclusively to the Bulletin said that the proposal was outrageous. “Don't listen to me, listen to the consumer,” the Airtours Chairman said, adding that any member of the Balearic Ministry for Tourism was more than welcome to come and work in any of his travel agents to get the “global picture” from the consumer. Crossland, whose company will be handling 13 million holidaymakers this year, said that other tourist destinations had tried to introduce similar taxes and had paid the consequences. Airtours, which has pioneered cruise tourism from Palma, is not ruling out the possibility of moving its cruise ships to another “un-tourist taxed port” if the Balearic government pushes ahead with the levy. This would be a major blow for the local economy and the Palma Port Authority which has invested heavily on building a quay and up-grading facilities, partly to cope with Airtours clients.