Don’t Lead Me Halfway To Paradise

Yesterday’s headline title - “Rip it up and start again” - could equally apply today. Yet more on the regeneration of the coastal areas of Mallorca. The “Diario” reports on an architect’s proposal for the transformation of the frontline in Palmanova. The proposal envisages, among other things, the destruction of three hotels. The thinking behind it - to restore the paradise-like nature of the beach, sea and the mountains beyond; a paradise state that existed before the mass construction of thirty and forty years ago.

This is fantasy land, or is it? That there was unchecked development in the formative years of mass Mallorcan tourism is undeniable; that the coastlines were subject to the erection of blots on the landscape is also undeniable; that there is a move to righting these wrongs is also undeniable. But what of the practicalities?

Architects, once emboldened, could doubtless turn their eyes to other parts of the coastline - Alcúdia, for instance. Let us just presume that some bright architect has a vision for the reversion to a paradise state along the bay of Alcúdia. That vision includes the destruction of hotels. In Alcúdia alone, setting Playa de Muro to one side for the moment, there are four hotels or complexes that might be said to be threatened - Sunwing, Ciudad Blanca, Paraiso de Alcúdia, Condesa de la Bahía. All of these abut the beach; two others - Orquidea Playa and Eden Alcúdia - might be said to be “safe” as mainly only their gardens edge towards the sand.

Let us presume that these hotels were condemned. At a stroke some 12% of Alcúdia’s capacity would be destroyed; three out of these four account for getting on for 3000 places. Let us now also presume the same or another architect had a similar vision for Playa de Muro. Half the hotels would be wiped out. This would be economic insanity.

It won’t happen. The cost of expropriation would be prohibitive; the cost in overall economic terms incalculable; the cost in lost goodwill among hoteliers, tour operators and tourists irredeemable. Forget it.


QUIZ
Yesterday - Yes indeedy, Orange Juice (Edwyn Collins). Today’s title? Different singers to choose from.

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