The catering sector has welcomed with interest the latest attempt by the Councillor for Tourism, Lázaro Criado, to promote the sale of menu vouchers, this time via the Internet and without the tour operators acting as middlemen. The system would help restaurants to compete with the 'all-inclusive' deals offered by some hotels and would change the idea that 'going out to eat' on the island is expensive.
'Menorca Full Experience' is aimed at helping to unify a sector that is currently very fragmented but has an important role to play in the island's economy due to the amount of income and employment generated and the support given to local traders through food and drink purchases. The President of the Bars and Restaurants Association in PIME, Daniel González, believes that this new system, which cuts out the tour operators, could work and guaranteed the backing of the association.
Referring to the image of Menorca as an expensive destination, González declared that it was unfair that the whole sector was given a bad name because of a few pirates, pointing out that there were both cheap and expensive restaurants, as with shops or hotels.
The restaurant owners who attended the meeting with Lázaro Criado pronounced themselves unanimously in favour of setting the new proposal in motion, although all believed it would be a complicated project due to the diversity of establishments in the sector.
Manuel Sabin, owner of Sa Païssa Hostel and Restaurant in Cala en Porter, stated that the first thing they would have to do would be to present the market with an attractive product, but was doubtful that the idea would come to fruition. In order to sell 'Menorca Full Experience' a working committee would need to be set up, comprising representatives from bars and restaurants divided into three groups: establishments in resorts or on the beach, those classed as rural or inland and those located in towns.
José Bosch, from the board of directors of CAEB's Catering Association, thought the idea was the right road to follow and that, as opposed to the discarded 'Dining Around' scheme, this system would allow almost immediate payment by selling direct to the public, a view shared by PIME's secretary, Jordi Bosch.
The restaurant owners know that it will not be possible to start the scheme this season but hope that the sector will remian united and that 'Menorca Full Experience' will be on sale via the public tourist website for 2011.
Referring to the 'all inclusive' offer, Lázaro Criado stated that it was "hard to quantify" the number of hotels offering this deal. Around six hotels are exclusively 'all inclusive' but many more offer half or full board to their clients and these deals no longer have to be booked in advance but can be arranged on arrival at the hotel.