The Editor,
Costa Blanca News.
I suggest the recession is unfairly taking the blame for the 19 per-cent fall in tourism. Yes, people are cutting back. But to compensate for those who stay at home Spain should now attract millions who, during the boom period, opted for exotic expensive resorts. As a holiday location Spain remains best value.
The cost of flights is not an issue. Who complains at ?100 or less for a 2,000 mile air trip? However, I haven?t heard a good word said about airport procedures; airline scams, poor public transport access, and extortionate airport parking costs. Many say they would visit more often but are discouraged by airports that treat people like cattle.
There is no reason why passage through an airport should be any more onerous than an inter-city train journey. Security considerations are a cop-out. State of the art monitoring of passengers ensures each traveller?s history is minutely scrutinised long before they reach check-in. So why take knitting needles off grannies, question grand dad?s pills; contemptuously hurl after shave and perfume into containers along with bottle openers? A cattle pen culture infests airports.
Most of us would rather visit the dentist than visit one: Staff attitudes are at best indifferent, at worst insolent. How ludicrous that we spend more time in the airport than we spend in the air. Make airports welcoming, accountable, and user friendly, and watch the tourists return. Bring back excitement to travel.
When they do so, remember that if by circumstance travellers cut back on spending, you as a service supplier should adapt too. You will get away with charging ?20 for a ?4 meal when times are good. You now you have to compete with the picnic bag and the supermarket.
Mike Walsh
