CAPACITY will not be increased in the
Balearics until at least 2004, a Thomas Cook boss has warned.
Managing
director of tour operations Manny Fontenla-Novoa said sales to the region were
poor because of high prices and the fact that the family market is not booking.
He warned unless prices dropped, capacity would be cut.
He
added poor sales to the Balearics was an industry-wide issue, not confined
solely to Thomas Cook.
“We
have no intention to increase capacity to the Balearics, and unless they do
something about the way they deal with UK operators, there will be capacity
cuts,” said Fontenla-Novoa.
The
warning comes as tour operators draw up contingency plans to cope with a series
of strikes planned by hotel workers in the Balearics this summer.
Up
to 60,000 chambermaids, bar staff and restaurant workers are expected to join
the walk-outs in a dispute over pay. The first action is set for July 26 and
27, with two more three-day strikes pencilled in between August 5 and 16.
Although Spanish unions were still in talks with
hoteliers as Travel Weekly went to press, efforts to keep employees in work are
expected to fail. A 3.5% pay rise has been offered to staff, but unions are
holding out for at least a 5% increase.