Russian Tourism
International tensions intruded on local tourism prospects as a delegation led by Balearic President Jose Ramon Bauza took part in the Moscow Travel Fair. Although there was no direct reference to the crisis between Russia and EU countries over Ukraine and Crimea the possibility that sanctions by European countries on the Russian economy might lead to a natural or imposed reduction of Russian tourists to the Balearics was obviously in the background. In his presentation to the Russian media and travel represetatives President Bauza emphasised the variety of the Balearics as a tourist attractiion, stretching beyond its reputation for sun and beaches to sporting activites, culture, gastronomy and countryside. The Grup Serra,owners of the Bulletin, was also present at the Moscow Fair with a stand featuring its Russian newspaper Vesti. In 2014 just over 130,000 Russians visited the Balearics, a number which has increased gradually over the years and has great potential for further growth. However, political overtones, the new attraction of Goa and the return of Egypt as a major attraction are all factors that will affect the Balearics' prospects in 2014.
Marking the President's Scorecard
Tne media fashion for assessing the performance of newly elected prime ministers and presidents during their first 100 days in office was adopted and extended by Andrew Ede in two full-page articles during the week in which he "marked the scorecard" of Jose Ramon Bauza who had just passed the 1,000th day of his presidency and of the Partido Popular government. The articles acknowledged that Bauza had inherited a "disaster-area package" and gave him credit for "some success" in the priority issues which he identitied on taking office -- "the economic crisis, reducing regional debt, and cutting unemployment". But other areas had soon presented themselves as needing attention, among them the health service, tourism, the social climate, poverty and, of course, education. Despite the wide range of the Balearic government's responsibilities Andrew Ede judged that "When it comes to a close, this administration will be remembered more for one particular issue -- language -- than it will be for others." The problems deriving from the government's mismanaged introduction of the TIL trilingual teaching in Balearic schools and the teachers' strikes tha followed had also "obscured fundamental issues -- just why are educational standards so low and why is the dropout rate so high?"
Inevitably, any assessment of this kind comes back in the end to the management of the economy. This was Andrew Ede's opinion: "Any pluses for the handling of the economy (very small ones, it must be said) on the scorecard must be set against social losses. investment, innovation and tourism, each of them positive in some respects, are ways to tackle these social losses, but a great deal more is needed."
Moving and Shaking Magalluf
"Magalluf, as I see things now, has a bright and exciting future to look forward to" -- the confident prediction of one of Magalluf's and Majorca' showbusiness movers and shakers -- Gordon Phillips, the director and promoter of Magalluf's BCM Planet Dance night club, in a Bulletin interview with Humphrey Carter which positively throbbed with his enthusiasm and confidence in what he has achieved since he first came to Majorca 1994 as a guest DJ and now runs what he believes to be "one of the best Clubs in the world featuring top artists who are also filling stadiums around the world".
That is not all. BCM is expanding into hotel ownershop and is developing an Ocean Beach-style venue with a capacity for five or six thousand people in the open air. "It's a one hundred million euro project which is going to help to dramatically change the face of Magalluf, which has needed a face lift for a very long time."
Gordon Phillips was also enthusiastic about the idea of having British police officers on hand in Magalluf during the high season. "I've worked Magalluf long enough to know what the problems are. The cause of 90 per cent of the incidents is the lack of communication between the tourists and the authorities. The Guardia Civil have a hard job to do and they do it well but misunderstandings are quite often the root cause of the problems. A few friendly British faces to explain to youngsters that the laws are different here would improve things in the resort. And that means a lot to me because I am always truing to push BCM, Magalluf and Majorca whenever I launch a promotion campaign overseas."
A Plea
A Letter to the Editor about the lack of help from the Guardia Civil was a reponse to a recent Bulletin interview with Colonel Barcelo, the newly-appointed head of the Guardia Civil in the Balearics, as follows: " I am glad to read that Colonel Barcelo has every intention of stamping out the criminal activity of drug dealing. Perhaps he would like to be aware of my particiular case. I am widow of 75 living in an isoloated farmhouse in a rural area. My nearest neighbour squatting in an abandoned house is only a few yards away from my home. For the last 14 years I have endured deafenng music, all night parties and endless drug dealing. The 28-year-old has absconded twice from rehabilitation centres, is unemployable and so steals or sells drugs to subsist...I live in fear as he has beaten up his grandmother twice for ready cash and no doubt will do the same to me one day.
The Guardia Civil are sympathetic and monitor his activities regularly as he is well know to them but this does not help me as he is six feet tall and out of his mind most of the time. Perhaps Colonel Barcelo would like to show some initiative in order to deal with with my disastrous problem as I do not with to be obliged to sell my home which I bought in 1984."
In Brief
At a special meeting of the Calvia Lions clothing was given to representatives of four charities which the Lions help to support. They were: Nazaret, founded in 1924, which cares for children between 9 and 17 in two centres for some 43 children and prepares them for future life. Indig helps mistreated children , provides them with professional treatment and encourages foster care. Mediterranea works with families who are short of food and also provides children with clothes, blankets and bedding. The Three Wise Men Project aims to give back hope to children abandoned and living in shelters with help including school supplies, clothes and other necessities.