A few years ago a leading restaurant owner told me that he could not care less how many millions of people flooded through Palma airport because they were not going to his restaurant and already this year the restaurant sector is complaining that takings have fallen by as much as 20 percent in some of the island’s key destinations normally awash with money.
And I don’t think the hotels are enjoying much of a bounce. I managed to bag a weekend deal at one of my favourite hotels with a 50 percent discount. Granted Easter was late and during May there are no major holidays in Europe. And then, according to the restaurant sector, the unusually poor weather may also be a factor to take into account as it tries to figure out why takings are down.
Juan Miguel Ferrer, president of the restaurant owners’ association of the Balearics has said: “the restaurant sector is the first line of defence when it comes to spending”. So if that is the case, is the tourist industry as a whole in a similar position? More cruise ships and flights do not appear to be translating into more money being spent. So much for the Balearic authorities’ fewer tourists but better quality big spending visitors roadmap. It does not seem to be working.