Hotel bosses in battle to beat Majorca winter tourism slump

PALMA
HOTEL bosses in Calvia are fighting back in the battle for a share of the European winter tourism market.
Despite forecasts of doom and gloom for Majorca's tourism industry this coming winter, many hotel chiefs in Peguera have decided to keep their establishments open in an attempt to attract the increasing number of Russian and Eastern European tourists looking for out-of-season breaks.

Kate Mentink, deputy mayor for tourism in Calvia, said that Peguera would have more than double the amount of hotels open for business compared to last year. “This is a direct result of the various travel and tourism fairs and events that the authority has attended throughout the year. People want to come here,” she said. “Calvia is increasing the amount of investment and activities available for tourists at the request of the hotel sector.” While businesses in Peguera should enjoy a healthy winter, it is a different story in the traditional favourite British resorts of Magalluf and Palmanova. Around 20 per cent of hotels will stay open, according to Kate Mentink. She denied that the decision of the Big Two British tour operators to completely shut down their Majorca programmes during the early part of 2009 would have a great effect on the island.