1.2.2010Oh Happy Day - Mallorca tourism promotion The new president of the Majorca tourist board is a highly experienced and respected member of the island's tourism fraternity, but does he have anything really new to say about the difficulties facing the industry? Full article
31.1.2010Will The Circle Be Unbroken? - Unemployment in the Balearics Unemployment has gone through the 100,000 barrier. It will get better, but will the underlying problems of seasonality and lack of diversity in Majorca and the Balearics ever be addressed? Full article
27.1.2010No Particular Place - The Unió Mallorquina's internal strife The UM has a new leader. Stability is promised, but will there be? And what of the new direction the UM is wishing upon itself and the electorate? Full article
25.1.2010I'm Anti, Fly Me - Tourism Priorities Despite some predictions that 2010 might be worse than 2009, there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic about the coming season. Full article
24.1.2010Watching You, Watching Me - Webcams and surveillance in Majorca The surveillance society. It is said that the UK has the highest level of surveillance in Europe. Much of it can be deemed necessary or beneficial, much of it isn't. And so it is in Majorca. Or rather, it isn't quite the same, as in Majorca - and in Spain - there is a greater level of concern for the invasion of privacy. Full article
22.1.2010Ooh, Isn't He Bold? Bold. Boldness. New tourism minister Ferrer is going to be bold. Or at least he said something along these lines several times when addressing the press at the Fitur tourism exhibition in Madrid. Full article
21.1.2010Smokey And The Banned-It: Part Two More on the smoking ban ... plus the planned IVA increase and Sr. Zapatero and his coffee. Full article
20.1.2010Smokey And The Banned-It The smoke-don't smoke argument is hotting up. The glowing embers of a cigarette tip threaten to become a mighty conflagration, if predictions are correct as to the impact of the proposed smoking ban in public places. The trouble is that these predictions are of course self-serving. They verge on the apocalyptic. The Balearics restaurant association is forecasting the "total ruination" of the bar and restaurant sector. Full article
17.1.2010Beautiful Myth - One Europe The "Ciudadanos Europeos" group in Majorca seeks cultural unity. What does it mean? Full article
12.1.2010Fever Isn't Such A New Thing - Elections in 2011 Election fever may be starting to take hold in the UK, but in Majorca the fever is, as yet, just a mild sniffle. Full article
7.1.2010We Three Kings The Christmas period is finally over. The kings arrived in the towns and ports of Majorca on the night of the fifth, performed some adoration, distributed their presents, and yesterday was the culmination of the festive season - for another year. Full article
6.1.2010Catching Up Christmas has come and gone and Three Kings in Majorca today brings the local festive season to a close. What has happened over the past couple of weeks? Not a huge amount, but here are some developments. Full article