ALL INCLUSIVE DEBATE

Dear Sir,
IN response to two letters published in the Majorca Daily Bulletin today, 13th November 2005, which in their turn were printed in response to a letter published by Graham Philips. Whilst Majorca can lament the increase of 'all inclusive' holidays, what we must remember is that the economy of Majorca is dependent on package tourism, whether self catering, half board or the dreaded all inclusive package. Every hotel and tour operator employs armies of people from Hotel Managers and back room staff to cleaners, waiters and chefs. These people in turn spend money and pay their taxes, which keeps the economy going. Not to mention the much lamented tour operator staff many of whom live here and contribute to the economy. Yes, we can look to other directions and encourage agroturismo, golf and luxury holidays, but remember where our bread and butter is and realise what would happen without the package holiday and the three and four star holidaymakers who we should cherish and make to feel welcome because if we don't they will go elsewhere, losing the very jobs that Majorca needs. Surely, a more pressing point should be the lack of tourists and hotels open in the winter. The government should be looking at encouraging tour operators to sell holidays here in the winter, something they are disinclined to do with so little open with little or no infrastructure here in the winter for tourism it is little wonder people do not come. Try to find a hotel open in Alcudia from mid November through to Mid February to enjoy the excellent golf courses for example. All these things need to be addressed and dealt with before Majorca can enjoy a sustainable tourism market keeping people employed and prosperous.
Yours faithfully Ruth Crouch, Alcudia
Dear Sir,
AS a non-resident, I am neither qualified or justified to comment on the business affairs of this island. However, as an irregular visitor over many years, I feel free to express my very strong feelings against the “all-inclusive holiday” package policy. Without doubt, it is an essential practice in certain well-known and lesser well-known holiday locations, globally. But in an environment where personal security, bars, cafés, retail outlets, medical services and transport - public or otherwise - are readily available, the “all-inclusive package” become inessential. More importantly, it drastically intrudes on the legitimate pursuits of local traders and service providers. The price of the “all-in deal” is higher, often considerably, than the recognised “half-board” rates, which is a deterrent in itself, not to mention the fact that there are many who have no desire to drink at length or eat three hearty meals a day. The availability of free alcohol from morning until night could lead to problems similar or worse than the public disorders so much in evidence in the U.K. today, where the drinks have to be paid for. On a personal level, when looking through a holiday brochure only half-board provisions are considered. All-inclusive deals are dismissed out of hand, no matter what hotel it might be. My present hotel is perfect in evey department, staff, location and catering. I would note to return at some future date, but if the practice was changed to “all-inclusive”, then I would never again be on the guest list. So I appeal, or even beg, all Majorcan hotel management, government departments, trade councils, and trade unions, to avoid going down a road which will very likely lead to disaster and consider the “all-inclusive package holiday” a non-starter.
G.A. Wolstenholme, Worcester
Dear Sir,
Good to see Ian Morrison (letters, Tuesday) entering the fray over the vexed question of all–inclusiveness. Ian, in his masterly exposition, makes the case against inclusivity most persuasively. One cannot really argue against it, but I have to say that if, as Ian suggests, one has Government interfering and dictating how many bars, restaurants etc. should or should not be permitted, then we are entering a very slippery slope down to that awful nightmare of State interference that dogged the British for so many years, stifling enterprise,imposing red tape, (still applicable in many areas!), that made Britain “The Sick Man of Europe”, until the Thatcher reforms of the 1980s. An exaggeration? Maybe. But I still maintain that the old maxim “Caveat Emptor” should prevail, with people buying bars etc. looking hard at the reasons for sale. However, as we know, there is “one born every day”,and I am afraid that they will have to suffer the consequences. As I implied in an earlier letter, for the vast majority of Majorcans, (and after all THEY are the most important to consider), the advent of mass tourism in whatever shape or form,has enriched them beyond their wildest dreams.
Phil Green, Son Ferrer