A group of Irish, British and Spanish bar owners in Alcudia are prepared to take their battle against 24-hour all-inclusive hotels to the European Court.
Glenn Brennan, who owns the Harp Bar, yesterday led a delegation of bar owners to Alcudia Town hall for a meeting with the Mayor Miguel Ferrer. Brennan said that, while the mayor was cooperative and understanding, he admitted that his hands are tied as the all-inclusive licences are issued by the Ministry for Tourism in Palma.
Nevertheless, the town hall's legal team is going to study their options.
The serious problem Brennan and his fellow bar, restaurant and amusement arcade owners face is that the three hotels which provide the bulk of their trade are offering 24 hour all-inclusive holiday services this summer and Brennan claims that will lead to a 70 percent drop in trade. We've been working alongside all-inclusive hotels for the past ten years, but this new concept of 24-hour complexes is not only going to lead to a severe drop in business, but we maintain that, in accordance with EU law, is unfair competition.
The complexes are providing for free what anyone else would have to pay for on the street, he said yesterday.
The complexes are predominantly British and very family orientated and up until now we've managed to survive, despite the dawn of the all-inclusive holidays in Majorca.
It's not just us the 24 hour complexes will effect, but the whole area. Guests will have no real reason to leave their hotel and eventually the resort will suffer, small businesses will close and even the council will suffer a drop in revenue from business rates, Brennan said.
This morning he will be handing in a denuncia signed by all the effected establishments to the Town Hall. As time is running out before the summer season kicks off, Brennan said that if they have not heard from the Town Hall within seven to ten days, they will take the matter elsewhere. If needs be, to the European Court.
It isn't only us who are facing this problem, but bars and restaurants in resorts across Majorca. If the all-inclusive hotels, especially the 24-hour complexes, are allowed to grow in number, it is only going to damage Majorca and lead to a general decline of resorts, their facilities and services, Brennan said.
Mine and the neighbouring bars only open for the six-month season, we're not going to just sit back and see our livelihoods taken away from us.
We can't afford to and we're going to fight this all the way.
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