It's been one of the harshest winters to date that I’ve ever known in Mallorca and the dreadful weather can’t have done much to have encouraged too much winter tourism. Granted, outside of Palma, not much, if anything, is open hotel wise - and therefore resorts remain closed - despite what those in high office would have people believe, but even in Palma, and let’s be honest, when the sun doesn’t shine Mallorca is pretty dull.
Even for the hiker, the cyclist or the golfer, you’ve got to be hardy to venture out in the weather the island has been having to endure. There are those who will stress the cultural and gastronomic attraction of Palma, even the shopping, but compared to other destinations, it is rather limited and can be expensive.
I was in Bilbao last autumn where a glass of wine in the city centre bars and restaurants was an average of 2 euros 50; you will be very hard pushed to find that in the centre of Palma. If weather patterns are going to continue changing, Mallorca is going to have to take the matter into account. If summers get hotter, winters wetter, Mallorca needs to have a long-term plan.
It needs to think seriously about where it wants to be on the global tourist map in 20 years.
I think tourism should be taken out of the hands of politicians so that long-term plans remain in place.