LOOKING GOOD

WARM weather predictions mean that Mallorca has ev‐ery chance of capitalising on the European love for coastal holidays.

There are already signs that even though Brexit has discouraged some British travellers, the Brits are still going to return in force this summer and no doubt the German holidaymakers will do the same.

There may be a hiccup if Air Europa pilots do decide to strike, but already Ryanair has announced that it plans to not only increase the number of aircraft oper‐ating out of Palma this sum‐ mer but will introduce nine new routes including Belfast.

Whilst the Balearic Gov‐ernment wants to see more control of stag and hen par‐ties (and please don’t just blame boozy Brits) there still seems to be a demand from young groups who want to travel but equally expect a higher percentage of well‐off travellers want‐ing to take advantage of the more sophisticated and up market hotels and restau‐rants available.

Cruise ships are still arriv‐ing and whilst the passen‐gers may not stay for long, they also can afford to spend money in Palma itself and the Boat Show which starts on April 27 will once again attract thousands of visitors from the mainland as well as across the world. It rather looks as if 2023 should be a good year for the Island.

PALMA Council is clamp ‐ing down on excess num ‐bers of tables and chairs set out by bars and restaurants in Plaza Sa Llonja and Plaza Dras ‐sanes.

The authorities have or‐dered the removal of 190 tables of the existing 440 from both squares after the establishment owners repeatedly refused to comply with limitations on the occupation of pub‐lic space, which has also triggered ongoing com ‐plaints by residents.

In Sa Llonja, the situa ‐tion had got so out of hand that in some cases the street furniture was pushed up against the historic building that gives the square its name.

Although the official limitation on tables and chairs set out in the mu ‐nicipal Plan Zonal was ap‐proved last year and came into force at the be‐ginning of 2023, it is only now that the dispute be ‐tween the authorities and business owners has real‐ly kicked off.

With the arrival of the tourism season, the spaces authorised for bar and restaurant terraces have been marked in yel ‐low paint, proving that many establishments were literally crossing over the line.