Tuesday, February 28, 2012

MALLORCA TODAY - Tourism law amendments re condos and hotel activities

Ongoing discussions between various parties and the Balearic Government have led to one firm amendment to the proposed new law, i.e. that hotels which opt to become condohotels will be obliged to stay open for six months of the year and not eight months. This is quite a shift in emphasis, as the government was making much of the fact that condos would help to help with combatting off-season problems.

Meanwhile, the complementary offer (bars, restaurants etc.) are carrying on talks with the hotels over the latter being able to offer secondary activities that might conflict with those provided by businesses outside hotels. The complementary offer want this to only be possible for hotels which are open 320 days a year. Previously, it was said that the two sides had arrived at a consensus in moving the new tourism law forward, but it is hard to see how the hotels will agree to this demand.

Otherwise, there is agreement on the prohibition of food and drink being taken off of hotel premises and that if it were to be then hotels would not be held liable. There will be a reliance on information posters to tell guests not to take food and drink out, but this provision in the new law seems very difficult to impose. Who will stop guests doing so? How can they be stopped? If they didn't stop, would they (the guests) be thrown out of the hotel? Would the police be involved? It sounds unworkable and likely to create problems.

No comments: