Big Night Out
While much of the bad-season attention has been paid to bars, restaurants, shops and hotels, one other sector of the tourism economy has not escaped the downturn, and that is "excursions". According to "The Diario", there has been a fall of around 20% in take-up across the islands. One of the greatest falls has been registered with evening excursions - a decade ago these numbered a million and a half; now they are as low as 300,000. The one excursion type that is escaping the worst is that to the waterparks with only a moderate decline. From these numbers, one has to assume that the likes of Pirates and Son Amar are not enjoying the best of times. The cut in the number of excursions is despite the fact that there is a reduced number of rental cars available.
Excursions differ of course, but an evening out can work out as being quite pricey if the whole family goes - 200 euros for a family of four to Pirates, for instance. However, it is not unfamiliar to read on forums that, while they may forego other expenditure, tourists reserve something for excursions. Like the evidence as to only one meal out per day becoming the norm, as opposed to two or three, maybe just one excursion is being taken whereas two or three may have been in the past.
A reduction of a different sort. The numbers coming to Majorca because they have cancelled as a consequence of the Palmanova bombing. Crazy, but never underestimate the power of hysteria. Or perhaps not. The number of cancellations has trebled, while there has been a fall of 15% in last-minute reservations. At least that is what the organisation of hotel chains is saying. The regional government, for its part, is insisting that there have been only 15 cancellations in Magalluf and Palmanova, while the president of the hotel association in those two resorts is saying that practically no cancellations have been made.There is to be a meeting of tourism authorities to put in place a campaign that shows security and normality and tourists enjoying beaches and hotels. It shouldn't be necessary, but the British and German press is being accused of questioning Majorca's security, and it has been the media that has created whatever hysteria there may have been. It is reassuring that tourists see through the sensationalism, if one takes the government and the Palmanova hoteliers view of things. But everything is normal. There is no threat. Nothing. It was one unfortunate incident. I've held off saying it because it may sound disrespectful or glib, but it was no big deal. Get over it.
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