Winter in Magaluf and Palmanova. A few bars are open. Pharmacies, banks. Not much else. It's a situation to be found in other resorts in Mallorca. It is a situation which has existed for years.
One of the few shopkeepers who opens in Palmanova at the end of January says: "No one comes by now. When the Imserso tourists came, you'd sell something and there was some business. Now, nothing, just the occasional customer or locals who know we're open and don't want to go down to Palma."
In a Magaluf bar, the manager says "we only have our regular customers, pensioners and residents, not much else". "I open because you can always make a little money, but it's not enough." Near to his bar, there are the signs for 'traspasa' outside the legendary Benny Hill.
In windows or shutters of other establishments are signs for traspasa or for sale.
Pepe Tirado, president of the Acotur association of tourist services businesses, explains that his association has asked Calvia Town Hall and hotel owners to make an effort to open earlier than usual. "This would help revitalise the rest of the tourism sector, which is currently at a standstill. The streets are completely deserted; nothing is open, and it's sad."
Several factors have led to establishments being on the market.
"One thing that stands out is the increasingly limited season; the season is getting shorter and shorter." Mostly everyone waits until Easter. Tirado adds: "Competition from large shopping centres is another handicap for small businesses, which can't compete on price; they also have parking and other advantages. Then there are rents, which are increasingly high and difficult for many to afford." Hiring staff, he notes, can be another factor.
"The solution is to open the hotels earlier. When they close, nobody comes here. Now even the Imserso programme isn't here."
The situation is hardly unique in Mallorca, but in Magaluf it is against the background of the town hall's expressed objective to make the resort, if not quite all year, then certainly a place with a longer season.