I came to Mallorca back in 1990. Back then, I worked the summer seasons and went back home in the winter to look for work. My wife Rachael and I met at Pirates; she was Captain Scarlett and I was Captain Darling. We bought an apartment together in 1999, and once we had done that, we tended to stay here in the winters more and more. We got married in 2005 and moved to where we live now, and not long after that our first son, Jacob, was born. Three and a half years later our second son, Jude, arrived.
I class Mallorca as my home, but I have never once considered giving up my British passport and becoming a Spanish citizen. Having lived here for 35 years now, and my wife for slightly less, we could both apply for citizenship — but it’s not something we want to do. We have said to our sons that it’s entirely up to them what they decide.
My youngest, Jude — who you probably know is an aspiring footballer — said to me, “What if it comes to choosing England or Spain in football?” Now, firstly, he’ll be lucky to ever get into that position of course, but we can dream. If he ever did, I said it would be totally up to him. His choice right now is England.
He is also considering other avenues of work in case the football dream doesn’t materialise, which is something we have encouraged. Right now, he wants to go into the military or the fire service, and he would like to do that in the UK.
Working on the radio, I like to keep a keen eye on the news and particularly on things that are happening in the UK. I also listen intently to family and friends and what they have to say about the state of my country of birth. None of it right now seems to be positive.
A poll released only a few days ago from King’s College London reported that less than half of those polled (46%) felt proud of Britain, down from 56% in the past five years.
Remembrance Sunday was a couple of weeks ago — a day held annually on the second Sunday in November in the UK and other Commonwealth countries to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian service members in all wars and conflicts. It is a time for national reflection, observed with acts of remembrance such as wearing poppies, attending ceremonies, laying wreaths, and observing two minutes of silence.
My nephew William was part of the RAF band playing at the Cenotaph. I was saddened to hear Alec Penstone, aged 100, who fought in World War II and has attended several remembrance events and appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. When asked what his message was for Remembrance Sunday, he said:
“My message is, I can see in my mind’s eye those rows and rows of white stones, of all the hundreds of my friends who gave their lives. For what? The country of today? No, I’m sorry. The sacrifice wasn’t worth the result that it is now.”
Alec explained:
“What we fought for was our freedom, and even now, it’s a darn sight worse than what it was when we fought for it.”
This past week has seen the World Travel Market in London, where the great and the good of the travel world descend on the Excel Centre to showcase their wares. Mallorca focused on diversification and sustainability as the new buzzwords, while the Government continues to fend off questions about tourismphobia.
There are three main travel markets in Europe: the WTM in London in November, Fitur in Madrid in January, and the ITB in Berlin in March. The majority of Mallorca’s tourist numbers come from three countries:
Germany: The largest single source market for tourists in Mallorca, accounting for around 40% of total tourist traffic. In 2024, estimates suggest over 5 million German visitors. Reports indicate that this year there has been a decrease in the number of German tourists.
United Kingdom: The second-largest market, typically making up around 26% of visitors. In 2024, there were an estimated 3.58 million British tourists. Reports suggest that the British helped save the summer season this year, with a slight decline in visitor numbers in July and August but a significant increase in September.
Spain: Domestic tourism from mainland Spain is also a key market, with approximately 1.8 million visitors estimated in 2024.
We are starting to see more and more visitors from other countries. In my concierge business, I have met and spoken with people from the USA, France, Italy, Austria, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Iraq, and Singapore. Next year, we are expecting flights from Canada, Abu Dhabi, and possibly South Africa.
For me, it is fundamental that we are represented at these travel markets. I often see comments online such as, “Why are we going when we’re always full?” and “Do we really need to spend this money?”
Marketing is crucial for sustainable growth — not just for attracting more visitors. It helps draw in a higher-spending demographic, which is something the Government is keen to encourage. It also helps spread tourism throughout the year and attracts people interested in different types of activities, helping to manage and reduce pressure during peak times. In addition, it can attract tourists with different needs and preferences, which in turn diversifies the local economy and ensures long-term stability.
Not being represented may not have a noticeable effect on tourism numbers in the short term, but you can be sure that in the long term, we would start to suffer. Competition among destinations is increasing, and according to the organisers of the WTM, London 2025 is expected to be the largest event in its 45-year history. Early indicators show significant growth, surpassing the more than 4,000 exhibitors from 2024, with an 8% increase expected.
Let’s be clear: tourism accounts for approximately 45% of Mallorca’s GDP, making it the island’s primary economic driver. The sector’s total impact is even greater, with analyses suggesting it influences up to 90% of the island’s economy through indirect effects on other industries. Most of us have a family member or friend who works in tourism.
Sustainability will be a vital part of our tourism strategy in the coming years. One change I would make immediately is to the tourist tax — I would charge a fixed fee all year round for every traveller.
At the moment:
• Under-16s don’t pay.
• Rates vary depending on the type of accommodation.
• There’s a 50% reduction if you stay longer than nine nights.
• It’s discounted during the low season.
Let’s be in no doubt: the island’s beauty must be maintained for generations to come — but we should also be proud of what we have. I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it:
We are a beautiful island of contrasts — from the stunning beaches in the north to the mountains of the west, the caves and coves of the east, and the bustling nightlife of the south. There is something here for absolutely everyone.
If ever there was a destination built for tourism, it’s our island. It hasn’t been one of the most popular islands in the world for the past 50 years for nothing. In my opinion, it remains one of the best places to live and one of the best holiday destinations anywhere.
We can boast turquoise-blue waters, secret coves, soft golden sands, lush green landscapes, rugged mountains, picturesque villages, amazing cuisine, an up-and-coming wine industry, vibrant nightlife, and a lively capital city. And we’re just a couple of hours’ flight from most major European cities — right in the heart of the Mediterranean.
As someone who lives and works here, I see Mallorca’s magic every single day — in the people, the landscapes, and the memories our visitors take home. If we can combine smart marketing with genuine care for our environment and communities, I have no doubt that Mallorca will continue to shine as the jewel of the Mediterranean for decades to come.
Mallorca is developing more and more into an international destination, and with that, more opportunities are becoming available to those of us living and working here. The truth is, why would you not want to come here?
We are a beautiful island of contrast, from the stunning beaches in the north to the mountains of the west, the caves and coves of the east, and the bustling nightlife of the south. There is something for absolutely everyone.
If ever there was a destination built for tourism, it is our island. It hasn’t been one of the most popular islands in the world for the last 50 years for nothing. In my opinion, it remains one of the best places to live and one of the finest holiday destinations. We can boast turquoise-blue waters, secret coves, soft golden sands, lush green foliage, rugged mountains, picturesque villages, amazing cuisine, an up-and-coming wine industry, a lively nightlife scene, and a vibrant capital city. We’re also an island in the Mediterranean, just a couple of hours’ flight from most European cities.
Palma Airport, which is Spain’s third busiest, is currently undergoing a €559 million expansion and modernization by its owner, AENA. The project began in 2022 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Its purpose is to improve the airport’s passenger-friendliness, efficiency, and sustainability.
One thing that is changing is the increasing number of direct flights arriving from outside of Europe. It used to be that anyone coming from further afield had to visit us via Madrid, Barcelona, or another European city. Since the pandemic and around the start of the airport expansion, things have started to change. In June 2022, a direct flight from New York to Palma began operating, and its frequency has increased every year. From June 17th to October 24th, 2026, Air Canada will launch a direct flight between Montreal and the island, and Etihad Airways has officially announced that it will begin direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Mallorca starting June 12th, 2026, running through to mid-September. This will be the first-ever direct connection between the UAE and Mallorca, and currently the only direct air link between Asia and the island — a landmark moment in Mallorca’s international connectivity.
Not only are all these connections great for the island but let’s remember we now have the opportunity to travel to these destinations for either business or pleasure. Making it a win-win situation.
Friends of mine in the wedding industry here on the island tell me that since the flights from New York began, there has been a steady increase in American couples getting married here. Friends in the property world also say that more and more foreign buyers are being lured to the island because of its beauty and great connectivity.
Not only is this good for business here but this also has a knock-on effect on many third-party businesses that may not be directly involved in these industries but will benefit from their growth.
I see all of this as positive, but I also understand that the sustainability aspect needs to be seriously looked at and addressed in a constructive way. We need to continue working to extend our seasonality. A 12 month year round Mallorca is far more appealing then a 6 month one and it could well lighten the load on the summer months. I see this slowly moving in the right direction, and we need to look at how we can better cope during the busiest months of the year, July and August. For Mallorca to become a year-round destination, we all need to work harder during the shoulder months to achieve this. Don’t listen to the naysayers who constantly say it can’t be done — Magaluf is now a perfect example of how positive change can happen. Keep those glasses half full!
My last column, writing about Ryanair and the possibility of them setting up a tour operator, got some really good feedback — so thank you for that. Ryanair is a story that keeps on giving, and these past two weeks have been no exception.
They have introduced new baggage rules which, to be honest, won’t make much of a difference. I imagine I’ll just be able to bring back a few more tea bags than I did before. They have increased the maximum size of the so-called “personal item” (to be stored under the seat) from 35x20x20cm to 40x25x20cm. This is the standard allowance for all passengers. If you want to bring a larger wheelie case, you must pay for priority boarding, which includes one larger cabin bag (55x40x20cm) and a second smaller item that can be stored in the overhead locker. Don’t you just love it when the priority boarders have to get on the same bus to the airplane as the rest of us in cattle class — or is that just me?
I wish all airlines would agree on a standard size for cabin baggage. It’s very confusing. When you arrive at the gate there are so many different baggage sizers. Take a look at the photo above — and that’s only four airlines.
Ryanair will no doubt have their pack of hyenas at the gates, doing their best to ruin the start of your flight. I think some of them take pleasure in causing that misery. To make matters worse, they have increased their staff incentive programme to catch people out — from €1.50 to €2.50. This bonus used to be capped at €80 per month per person, but this has now been removed, which means they can earn as much as they want. Be warned!
I still laugh that they charge you a €45 administration fee to change a flight. I have no problem with being charged the difference between the flight I booked and the flight I am changing to. What I do object to is the so-called “admin fee.” Why? Because you actually do the admin yourself! At this rate, I’ll be charging myself for an oversized bag if I’m not careful.
They’ve also been in the news this week after apparently dropping one million seats from Spanish airports for the upcoming year. I’m led to believe that the rise equates to €0.68 per passenger. AENA, the company in charge of most of Spain’s airports, has said that it’s a 6.62% year-on-year rise. AENA also points out that Ryanair has raised its fares by 21% in the past year. Whilst this is a game of poker, it will be interesting to see if either side folds. My guess is that the routes Ryanair has dropped are their least profitable or loss-making ones and therefore won’t have a significant effect on their bottom line.
My friend and fellow podcaster Martin Makepeace, from our Talking Balearics podcast, loves Ryanair. He always books seat 17F — by the window, with legroom. Mind you, he is 6’7”, so he needs as much help as he can get!
As you can probably tell from the above, I’m not a fan. Will it stop me booking a flight with them if it’s the cheapest around? Probably not. And if any of those hyenas come snooping around, I’ll stick my bag where the sun doesn’t shine!
When I joined the tour operating world in 1990, tour operators were two a penny. ILG, the company I worked for, had numerous brands such as Intasun, Lancaster, Global, Club 18–30, and Horizon, to name just a few. After they went bust in 1991, the tour operating world started to change.
The major players then were Thomson, Airtours, Thomas Cook, and Owners Abroad, which rebranded as First Choice in 1994. After the Gulf War of the early ’90s, the holiday industry started to recover. Although the internet had begun, people were still booking their holidays at travel agents such as Lunn Poly, Thomas Cook, and Going Places. Who remembers searching the TV for a Teletext holiday? Unbelievable now when you think about it.
By the mid-’90s, the European Council relaxed the rules to create a common aviation area across Europe, and this was the start of the no-frills airline revolution. Ryanair, a company that had started in 1984, was known—believe it or not—for its customer service! In 1988, Michael O’Leary, who was an accountant at the time, was sent in to try and save Ryanair as it was losing millions of pounds. EasyJet started in 1995 when Stelios Haji-Ioannou took a loan from his shipping-tycoon father. He said at the time he didn’t have a clue what he was doing. Interestingly, both companies looked to the American airline Southwest for inspiration in building what you see today.
Between 1996 and 2015, passenger numbers at UK airports increased by 85 percent, from 135 million to 251 million—driven by flights sold by low-cost carriers and online booking. The traffic was also coming from more regional airports such as Stansted, Luton, and Liverpool.
This was definitely having an effect on the tour operators, with people now booking directly or with dynamic packaging companies, often for shorter trips. The traditional 7- or 14-night holiday was becoming a thing of the past. This squeeze brought about mergers: Airtours (rebranded as MyTravel in 2002) merged with Thomas Cook in 2007, and in the same year TUI, which operated the Thomson brand, merged with First Choice. Around this time, OTAs (Online Travel Agents) started to take off. On the Beach launched in 2004 from a terraced house in Macclesfield, and Love Holidays began in 2012.
The 9/11 attacks, subsequent wars, the global financial crisis, and the pandemic wreaked havoc across the holiday industry over the years, ultimately leading to the collapse of Thomas Cook in September 2019.
That left a gap in the market, which was filled by a company that had actually started in 1971 as Carpenters Air Services, flying flowers from Guernsey to the UK. After going through various guises, Jet2 launched its first scheduled leisure flight from Leeds Bradford Airport in 2003. In 2007, its holiday division was launched, and it has since become the leader in the package holiday industry.
Another company that began to fill the Thomas Cook void was already an established player in the airline industry. In November 2019, EasyJet Holidays was launched. It quickly realised that a seat sold as part of a package holiday generated more money per head than a seat-only sale.
When you look at the top five ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence) holders as of April 2025, it makes for interesting reading:
1. Jet2holidays
2. TUI
3. Loveholidays
4. easyJet Holidays
5. On the Beach
Now, I know you may think I’m mad, but don’t be surprised to see Ryanair Holidays within the next five years—or maybe even sooner. In fact, in a roundabout sort of way, they already exist without you knowing it. Ryanair has many partners in the holiday world, but the most recognisable are TUI, On the Beach, and Love Holidays—all of which include Ryanair flights in their packages. So don’t be surprised if Ryanair eventually takes over either On the Beach or Love Holidays in the future.
To borrow a football analogy: the holiday industry is a funny old game!
One thing I definitely missed when I gave up working in radio in 2022 was the charity work. As soon as we decided to start another station, the Radiothon was already being organised. After opening in February, we decided to wait until we were more established before setting a date.
With any charity work, I think it’s very important that everyone who has helped us raise money knows where it is going and how we are helping. I asked each charity to let us know how our donation would help them.
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Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH)
My relationship with GOSH dates back to 2004 through my work with Pirates and the Pirates Charity Premieres. When the Premieres ended in 2016, I continued supporting GOSH through the Radiothons. I’ve also run the London Marathon twice for them, in 2008 and 2010, raising £10,867.00.
Through the Premieres and Radiothons, I am very proud to say we have now raised a total of €766,057.60 for GOSH, supporting many important projects over the years.
Laura Foy, Senior Fundraising Executive – Partnership Management, wrote:
“Every day, around 750 seriously ill children and young people are seen at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Your support through the Radiothon is helping to build a brighter future for them.
With your support, GOSH Charity helps fund advanced medical equipment for treating the toughest conditions, as well as support services that help make life in hospital as normal as possible for young patients and their families. The funds raised also support pioneering research to find treatments and cures for rare and complex childhood illnesses. And thanks to your fundraising, we can build the new Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Cancer is the biggest killer of children aged one to 14 in the UK, and this centre will help us beat cancer for more children.
Whether it’s the children at the hospital right now, or the patients of tomorrow, you are making a difference. GOSH has always depended on generous supporters like you to enable seriously ill children to fulfil their potential. The incredible support from people like you means everything to the children and families at GOSH, who are facing some of the hardest challenges of their lives.
On behalf of the children, families and staff at GOSH, thank you so much for generously supporting the Radiothon!”
Thanks,
Laura
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Son Espases Hospital
We have a great relationship with our local public hospital in Palma. Since we started the Radiothon in 2015, we have raised €49,424.87 for the hospital.
Our work with them has been in the paediatric department and the children’s intensive care unit. Money raised in previous years has helped fund various projects, including decorating an MRI scanner and its room, painting the paediatric ward doors with cartoon characters, creating a brand-new waiting room for parents with children in intensive care, and many other smaller projects.
Natalia Vallés Ruiz, Head of Nursing, told me:
“In order to improve the paediatric patient’s hospital experience and reduce fear and anxiety associated with certain medical procedures, Son Espases has developed a collection of stories specially designed for different moments in the care process for children.
The main character is URPI, the mascot of the Paediatrics Emergency Department. As part of this project, a specific story has been created in which URPI accompanies the child throughout the entire care process, acting as a guide and a friend, helping them feel more comfortable and providing emotional security.
The main purpose of this resource is to reduce fear and anxiety during medical procedures. The activity is conceived as a ‘special mission’ while health professionals carry out the necessary procedures.
Funding from the Radiothon will be used to decorate part of the Paediatric Emergency Department, continue developing and producing visual and narrative materials, and work towards the final goal: fully decorating the Paediatrics ER.”
Many thanks,
Natalia
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Yachting Gives Back
Nick Entwistle set up YGB in 2019 after retiring from Pinmar Yachting, with the aim of fighting hunger and poverty in Mallorca. It is supported by donations from superyachts, the yachting community, and beyond.
Dear Richie,
Very many thanks to you and your lovely team at Wave Mallorca Radio, together with your generous sponsors and donors, for the wonderful donation from your very successful Radiothon.
We have already used some of the funds to buy a much-needed new fridge freezer for the Can Gazà shelter, and we look forward to putting the rest to good use—probably on our monthly shopping trips for Can Gazà, Siloé, Mallorca Sense Fam, and SOS Mamás.
We are hugely grateful for your continuing support and very proud to deliver so much help to the local community on your behalf.
With best regards,
Nick, Anne, Paddy, Jan and Ruth
Yachting Gives Back
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6Points Cycling Challenges
This was conceived by Bryan Visser in 2016 as an individual rider charity ride around Mallorca. It has grown from 6 riders in 2016 to 76 riders in May this year.
Dear Richie,
On behalf of 6Points Cycling Challenges and our three charities—Asdica, SOS Animal and Shambhala—I am delighted to thank you for including us in your Radiothon and for donating €2,872.50.
It was a pleasure to work with you during the Radiothon and to host a 6Point Ride to add value to your endeavours.
Your wonderful donation has been topped up to €3,000 and equally shared between our three charities. The money has already been paid to them, and they are delighted!
With heartfelt thanks,
Yours sincerely,
Bryan Visser
6Points Challenges
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Cancer Support Mallorca
Back in 2011, Krista Hyer set up the group with the aim of helping patients, carers, and anyone affected by cancer. Krista sadly passed away in 2022, but her amazing work has been carried on by Rebecca Upton and Bronwen Griffiths Thomas.
A heartfelt thank you to Wave Mallorca Radio and all the incredible listeners who supported the recent Radiothon in aid of Cancer Support Mallorca.
Thanks to your generosity, the money raised will go a long way in helping us continue our vital work supporting cancer patients and their families across the island. It means we can:
– Provide free translation and interpretation for medical appointments
– Offer transport to and from treatments for those without support
– Give access to nutritional advice and wellbeing programmes
– Provide counselling and emotional support to patients and caregivers
– Carry out home visits for those unable to travel
– Assist with end-of-life planning and grief support
Every euro raised helps ensure that no one has to face cancer alone.
Thank you for being part of our mission.
Rebecca & Bronwen
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With the donations from this year added to all the other Radiothons since 2015, we have now raised €211,892.44. I keep saying this—we are just the messengers, and you, the listeners and readers are the ones who help us achieve our goals for charity. I see it as one big community that can only grow stronger in the years to come, continuing to help those in need.
With all the travelling I do, I take out insurance that covers me for all the cars I rent. It is without doubt the cheaper way to do things. A year’s cost is usually about the same as taking out two fully comprehensive insurances that you pay as an add-on at the rental desk when you arrive. Most car hire companies will put you on third-party insurance and then add the fully comprehensive cover when you collect the car.
By taking out your own insurance, you avoid that cost—but you have to be aware that the excess charge is usually quite hefty. Obviously, this takes away the opportunity for car hire companies to make extra money from customers, so they try to make it as difficult as possible.
To deter people from doing this, they’ve now increased the excess charge from £1,000 to £1,500. Another thing I’ve noticed on my last two visits to the UK in recent weeks is a change in how they operate when giving you your car. It used to be that, after completing all the paperwork and signing the contract, they would lead you out to the car. Once there, they’d show you around and point out any damage to the vehicle. However, on both recent occasions, they’ve stayed behind the desk and said, “Please check the car over yourself by either videoing or taking pictures and making a note of any damage.”
Basically, they’re putting the onus on you to identify any issues with the car. I’ve rented from two different companies in the UK over the last couple of weeks, and both behaved the same way. I wonder—if you do take out their insurance, do they still bother to come out with you? I’d be interested to know if this has happened to anyone else.
Now, this is fine when the sun is shining and it’s warm because you can see everything. But what are you supposed to do in winter when it’s cold, dark, and raining? If you don’t report something, they’re likely to blame you for the damage. My hunch is this is a way of clawing back the money they lose when customers don’t take their insurance. I’d be happy to be proved wrong, but the way they now ask the question at the desk, it’s almost as if they assume you already have your own cover. Still, they seem determined to find other ways of squeezing as much money out of you as possible.
It reminds me of the check-in staff at low-cost airlines who inspect whether your bag fits into those size checkers. Reports have surfaced this week claiming they receive around €1.50 for every bag they identify as oversized. I think it depends on the airline and how motivated the staff are—on my last two trips, they didn’t bother checking at all.
Low-cost airline fares and cheap car hire are fast becoming a thing of the past, if I’m honest, and it seems we’re all going to have to pay more in the future.
We live in a democratic world, thankfully, and that gives us the opportunity for free speech and the right to protest. So, I have no problem with the people who were protesting in Mallorca a few weeks ago. Where I do have a problem is with the mixed messages that seemed to be coming out.
My understanding was that they were there to protest about tourist overcrowding and the lack of affordable housing. But there were also people waving Palestinian flags and calling for Mallorcan independence. When the messages start to become mixed, the actual purpose of the protest, in my opinion, loses credibility.
The protesters claimed there were 30,000 people, while the police said there were 8,000. Who do you believe? Well, even if you go with what the protesters claim, that’s just 3% of the overall population. Hardly a majority, is it?
In my opinion, they shouldn’t be protesting against tourism or tourists. The issue lies with the government—and more importantly, with previous governments—and their lack of investment in social housing. You could also argue that some of the protesters are being hypocritical. Why, you ask? Well, for two reasons: one, you can almost guarantee that each and every one of them has a family member or friend who earns their living through tourism. And two, do these people not go on holiday themselves? If they do, they are contributing to the very thing they are protesting about!
The question is: if you’re really pushing back against tourism, what else are we able to offer? We’re not exactly in the heart of the manufacturing world, are we? Like it or not, tourism is a major pillar of our economy, contributing approximately 45% of our total GDP. Some analyses suggest that tourism’s influence extends even further, potentially impacting up to 90% of the island’s economic activity.
We should be embracing what we have and looking for solutions to the problem. We have a great example of how holiday destinations can evolve right on our doorstep. Magaluf is, in my opinion, a shining example of how a resort once much derided can reinvent itself. If you don’t believe me, go and see for yourself.
There seemed to be quite a lot of backlash this week following Sir Keir Starmer’s UK Government agreement with the EU. Now, depending on which paper you read—and its political leaning—you’ll see varying reports on the reaction. The Labour-supporting Mirror said, “Deal is Win-Win,” while The Guardian reported, “EU deal puts Britain back on world stage.” On the other side, the Conservative-supporting Mail declared, “Starmer’s Surrender,” and The Daily Telegraph (or “Torygraph” as it’s sometimes known) ran with, “Kiss goodbye to Brexit.”
With any deal, there are always going to be winners and losers—it’s pretty much impossible to keep everyone happy. As I always say, the devil is in the detail. While there are various headlines surrounding what’s been discussed, a lot of it is still in the planning stage and should have a large TBC written next to it.
Purely from a selfish point of view, and focusing on the parts that matter to us here in Mallorca, I think it’s a great deal for travellers and businesses.
The food deal—or to give it its full name, the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement—would eliminate some of the trade barriers erected during Brexit. This would provide provisioners, supermarkets, and their suppliers with the opportunity to import more UK produce more quickly and easily. I imagine this could result in cost savings, so hopefully we’ll see a drop in prices too.
Also, for businesses here wanting to sell their produce in the UK, the previous barriers should now be removed, making it easier and cheaper to export.
Using e-Gates-There is a suggestion that holidaymakers could avoid “huge queues” at airports through an agreement allowing British travellers to use e-Gates at European airports. The agreement states that there will be “no legal barriers to e-Gate use for British nationals travelling to and from member states”—but nothing firmer yet. It’s up to individual member states to implement this. I’m not sure if Palma Airport’s owner, AENA, will be too happy, after redesigning Terminal A to cater solely for British tourists and passengers from non-Schengen countries. But still a positive step for UK travelers around Europe.
A youth mobility scheme—which the government has now rebranded as a “youth experience scheme”—also appears to be in the works. The terms must be mutually agreed, as the final numbers, how the cap will apply, and the time limits all still need to be worked out.
If it does happen, I think it will be great news not only for young adults who want to travel and work, but also for businesses here, which are crying out for young workers. I do hope the Spanish Government acts quickly on this. It benefits not only young Brits wanting to come here, but also Spanish young adults, who should have a reciprocal arrangement.
As I said above, all these so-called deals still need some meat on the bone—they need to be fully negotiated. But in my opinion, the ones that affect us represent a positive step in the right direction. I had that opportunity as a young person, and I didn’t look back. I, for one, would like my children to have the same opportunities.
If you say to any worker, “I’m going to reduce your working hours but still pay you the same,” without a doubt they’ll respond, “Where do I sign?”
Ask the same question to employers, and I’m sure they’ll look at you in utter dismay and ask, “Why?” Most employers are already finding it hard enough to recruit good, qualified staff—and enough of them to cover the hours they need.
But the Spanish government is moving ahead with plans to reduce the official working week from 40 to 37.5 hours, without reducing salaries. Implementation is expected towards the end of 2025, and it won’t surprise you to know that the proposal has full support from the unions.
“This proposal is about living better, working less, and being much more productive and economically efficient,” said Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, who put the idea forward.
However, the centre-right Catalan separatist party Junts has already signalled resistance, while the main employers’ lobby, CEOE, argues it will raise Spanish firms’ costs and make them less competitive.
If I’m honest, I lean toward the second opinion. This proposal is heavily weighted in favour of employees rather than employers, and it feels like a populist move designed to win votes in the next election.
I can understand it more on the mainland, where industries like manufacturing and construction are more prominent than here in Mallorca. On the island, tourism is by far the dominant sector, accounting for a significant portion of the economy. While specific figures vary, tourism is estimated to contribute between 40% and 75% of Mallorca’s GDP. It’s also the primary driver of employment, with a large percentage of the workforce directly or indirectly involved in tourism-related businesses.
Once again, Mallorca will suffer from a policy that benefits the mainland more than it benefits us.
Dad Taxi Mallorca 