Tourism up, official....

The number of British tourists coming on holiday to Majorca in July increased by five percent, according to official figures released yesterday by the local ministry for tourism. Tourism minister Celesti Alomar also claimed that there had been increases of nine percent in Spanish and German tourism to Majorca. These figures clash with statements made by hoteliers who claim that it has been a poor season. German tourism, is overall this year, down by an insignificant 0.2 percent. Since January more than six million people have visited the Balearics. Alomar was speaking yesterday before holding talks with the Chairman of the new TUI-Thomson tour giant. Whatever the official figures, the industry is complaining that summer 2'000 has been a season to forget. Hoteliers are complaining of low occupancy, restaurants and bars are reporting a fall in takings and other lesser businesses such as taxi drivers and other service industries said that there takings are down by at least 50 percent. Competition from other destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean appears to be taking its toll on the Balearics.