Friday February 12th 2021
"We can't hold out any longer"
Mallorca's tourism industry sends SOS
The nerves of hoteliers and restaurateurs on the Germans' favorite island are on edge. Despite a significant relaxation of the Corona situation, the restaurants, cafés and pubs on Mallorca and the neighboring islands have to remain closed. The industry gives way to their displeasure.
With an action, hoteliers and restaurateurs, taxi drivers, tour guides and shopkeepers on Mallorca have drawn attention to their need – and called for quick solutions to the corona-related crisis. The new interest group "SOS Turismo" put hundreds of banners on the facades and balconies of hotels, restaurants and other buildings. The sometimes huge flags with the association's name and demands could be seen in many places on the Spanish holiday island.
"We tourism companies can no longer hold out", says a "manifesto" that was read out on the beach of Cala Millor in the east of the island by members of the association of dozen industry associations. Among other things, "direct aid and a considerable reduction in the tax burden" were called for.
Notwithstanding a significant relaxation of the Corona situation, the regional government of the Balearic Islands had extended the forced closure of all restaurants and other facilities on Mallorca and the neighboring islands of Ibiza and Formentera until March 2nd. From Monday, for example, there will only be slight easing for shopping centers and swimming pools.
The main reason given for maintaining most of the restrictions is the continuing difficult situation in the hospitals. The strict lockdown has been in place since January 13th. However, the hospitality industry in the Balearic Islands has been suffering from the consequences of the pandemic and the decline in tourism for many months. In normal years, the industry has a 35 percent share of regional income. In 2020, however, the number of holidaymakers fell by 87.4 percent to just 1.7 million.
In December, the Balearic Islands had the highest corona numbers in all of Spain for a long time. In the course of the strict restrictions, however, the situation has been improving for weeks.
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