EDITORIAL

By Jason Moore
FULL marks to the organisers of the ABTA convention I would say that it has been one of the most successful ever. I was speaking to Keith Betton, Director of Corporate Affairs of the association yesterday, and he said that they were so impressed with the island they wanted to return in five year's time rather than their traditional ten. All Majorca has to do is ask. This wasn't about 2'000 delegates coming down here and having a great time, it was about 2'000 people who sell Majorca and the Balearics everyday being shown that they were special and thanking them for what they do. These are people who promote Majorca in Britain and have helped make this island what it is, one of the most successful and sought after places in the Mediterranean. In other words they are at the frontline and can help tourists decide where to go on holiday. The figures speak for themselves; Majorca is the top spot. Full credit to the local government who understand that Majorca hasn't some god given right to be successful. They recognise that there are a number of factors which help contribute to this state of affairs, and travel agents are among the most important. People need to be made to feel special and that is exactly what has been achieved over the last week. I must say that over the last few years I have started to despair about the state of our principal industry. Some of the statements which were being made were completely outrageous. The body language from the last local government was in other words “tourists are always going to come to the island so let's tax them.” Thankfully, the new administration understands the package holiday industry and also understands the British market. Majorca is also lucky to have many key figures in the British industry who are real fans. Well done Majorca you shined at just the right time.
If anyone thought that the issue of Gibraltar was dead and buried thanks to the great relationship which exists between Tony Blair and Jose Maria Aznar they were deeply mistaken. The now infamous “bug ship cruise liner,” Aurora, arrived in Gibraltar yesterday and the first thing the Spanish government did was to close the border. This is a particularly nasty stomach bug but not the plague. Will the Spanish authorities do the same when there is an outbreak of food poisoning at a Spanish hotel? I don't think so. As usual the issue of Gibraltar is clouding the minds of the government in Madrid and it is still a burning issue. I myself feel rather sorry for the people of Gibraltar who still wish to remain British despite the fact that every rather dodgy ship or submarine in the Mediterranean heads for the “Rock” when there is any problem. Spain has to recognise that the British government is not going to hand over Gibraltar to them as long as a majority of Gibraltarians wish to remain British. At the last count it was 99 percent of them. As I have said before in this column Spain should be working around the clock to try and convince the Gibraltarians that their life will not be any different under the Spanish flag rather than the Union Jack. Instead the Spanish government blows any issue involving Gibraltar way out of context and the few friends they may have on the “Rock” are left thinking that perhaps the pro-British camp is right.