No crisis in tourist sector says Antich

Balearic Chief Minister Francesc Antich said yesterday that the hotel occupancy figures clearly demonstrate that there is no “crisis” in the Balearic tourist industry. Antich said that this weekend's figures, including the record breaking statistics released by the airport authority, have brought an end to the bad run the hoteliers have been forced to suffer over the past few months. The Chief Minister said that while the long term forecast tourist figures will be slightly down on last year, he pointed out that 1999 was an “unusually exceptional year.” “People are talking about a crisis in the tourist industry, I think the complete opposite is happening, there are a lot of people who want to come on holiday to our islands,” Antich said. The Chief Minister also defended his position on protecting the environment and that he has no intention of being diverted off course with the tourist tax which he wants to see in place ahead of next summer.