ISSUE NO. 1546
EWN FRONT EXTRA
Look East FIFTEEN unemployed people are taking Mandarin language classes in Alicante. The 310-hour course is the first in the province funded by the Valencian employment and training service, Servef.
Stop eviction PAH, the Platform Affected by Mortgage in Elche, held a peaceful protest at two Bankia branches to stop families from being evicted.
Stub it out ORIHUELA police have inspected eight commercial establishments that reportedly sell tobacco without a licence, following complaints that cigarettes were being sold to minors.
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19 - 25 FEBRUARY 2015
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Save our airport! HUNDREDS gathered outside the Regional Assembly offices in Cartagena to protest against plans to close San Javier airport when the new facility at Corvera opens. It comes after Regional President Alberto Garre confirmed that he was in negotiations with airports operator Aena regarding the closure of San Javier. President of the Platform in Defence of San Javier, Santiago Pina, said the closure of San Javier would result in the
loss of 450 direct jobs and 1,200 indirect positions. He added: “The decision
to close the airport is a political strategy and it is they who have the final
decision, much to our regret.” Speaking at the Regional Assembly, Garre insisted that closing San Javier was necessary for the development of Murcia but said he was trying to safeguard all jobs at San Javier and making it a priority during the negotiations. There is still no set date as to when the longawaited Corvera airport will actually open, with Garre simply saying it should be open ‘as soon as possible’.
Tourism brings employment boost THE tourism sector in the Valencia Region created a total of 22,971 new jobs last year, with 70 per cent of them on the Costa Blanca. According to data published by EPA Turespaña, workers have gone from 214,219 at the end of 2013 to
237,190 at the end of last year. “Some results are the consequence of the good performance of the sector, with growth in passenger numbers and tourist spending confirming 2014 as a record year,” said Regional Minister for Tourism and Commerce
Maximo Buch, adding: “This figure represents a 10.7 per cent increase over the occupied sector in 2013, the second largest increase among the autonomous communities which confirms the strength of our tourism industry as a source of employment.”