Dear Reader,
I think we should all heed the lamentable state that the local tourist trade is in.
The major complaint is that it has priced itself out of the market and I fear that the local marine industry may be heading the same way as per the front-page story and backed up by the feedback in the survey mentioned below!
I have also heard some rumblings from some yachts in the yards regarding the clampdown on day-workers and that the skippers either can´t get anything done or it´s becoming too expensive.
As regular readers know I´m not in favour of people taking jobs from ´legitimate. tax- fearing´ businesses but surely there must be some solution. If anyone has got any bright ideas please let me know.
Thanks to all that took the time to complete the questionnaire which we have published in the news section.
I think that the sample is pretty representative of the local industry (non-Spanish) and surprise, surprise every single one of the respondents said that the local government did not promote the local industry enough.
One comment from a respondent may be very cynical but perhaps spot on?
He said that in his opinion the lack of support is not surprising when you consider the majority of successful yacht companies are non-Spanish- viva equalidad!
Amongst the other points it is interesting to note that, from feedback from yachtsmen, only 9% reported that Mallorca is considered as ´competitively priced´!
Word gets to me that the 2003 Refit and Repair show in Antibes has been cancelled.
The organiser tells me that he doesn´t have the time to organise it this year. It is a fact that attendances to all boat shows has seen a decline with a number of ´fringe´ shows packing up completely.
With email and websites and global communications of all sorts anyone looking for information need not traipse around the world to find what they are looking for.
I, for what it´s worth, don´t think there is a need for a separate R&R show...except if all the exhibitors had something new to show and demonstrate.
Just having a pretty stand with a fridge full of booze and a plate of peanuts will not attract real punters- only free-loading monkeys!
On the other hand the idea for a jointly sponsored Palma presence at the September Monaco show (see news section) sounds a good idea to me.
Lastly I would draw your attention to the list of false RYA certificates (news section) as you probably know via the RYA the local Guardia Civil are cracking down on these.
Regards,
John Rule