Praise for Balearics

The British Ambassador to Spain, Peter Torry, said yesterday that the forecast rise in the number of British tourists to the Balearics is proof that they do not object to the tourist tax. Torry, emerging from talks with Balearic President Francesc Antich, said “providing you explain to tourists that they have to pay one to two euros to help improve the environment, the majority will understand.” Torry and Antich discussed the British tourism market and how last year it established itself as the Balearics number one client. “My first questions is always if the British are behaving themselves and I am pleased to be able to say that this time the answer has been yes,” the Ambassador said. He also praised the Balearic government for its policy to improve the quality offered by the tourist industry. Torry also spoke highly of negotiations between Madrid and London over the future of Gibraltar, adding that joint sovreignty will benefit the Gibraltarians. He said that he hopes the two countries can reach an accord over The Rock this summer, although no firm date has been set, and he admitted that both the UK and Spain have recently complicated the issue.