News
The people’s paper Issue No. 1889 16 - 22 Sept 2021
Terrace disagreement PALMA Council has indicated that due to numerous complaints from members of the public and businesses it plans to stop bars and restaurants using parking spaces as terraces. It would appear that the City Council expects the restriction on the number of people able to utilise the interior of hospitality businesses will continue to be eased, which means that these extended terraces will become unnecessary. Parking is often problematic in the city and therefore whilst it may not be good news for those who have expanded onto the roads, it will be welcomed by those who need to park their cars. In complete contrast, the mayor of Llucmajor Éric Jareño has announced that his council has decided to maintain its commitment to allow 100 per cent of the terraces of bars and restaurants that occupy parking spaces and other spaces on the public road to remain until December 31. This measure, explained Jareño, “is a commitment made to the hospitality sector, one of many that has been severely affected by the pandemic.” He added that “now that it seems that the situation is improving and we are gradually returning to normal, it is time to really bet on economic recovery and support them as it is our responsibility now to support those who make efforts to create jobs and those who have a small business and have had such a bad time for so long.” Owners who take advantage of this offer, will however continue to pay an agreed rate for occupation of the public road.
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BACK TO NORMAL Credit: Balearic Government
LOOKING FORWARD: President Armengol addresses Parliament. ON September 14, the President of the Balearic Government, Francina Armengol told the Balearic Parliament that the Is‐ lands will achieve a full economic and employment recovery dur‐ ing 2022. She praised all of those involved in public life as well as individuals who had worked together to face all of the struggles caused by Covid‐19 and the pandemic which is now giving way to recovery. Making it clear that this crisis, unlike the financial disaster of 2008, will not last 10 years and that the Balearics will be in the happy position of bouncing back within two years since the start of the pandemic. Reports suggest that the Balearics will be the fastest recov‐ ering Autonomous Community in Spain with a forecast increase in
local GDP of 12.1 per cent and al‐ ready unemployment is falling to a level which is far better than across the mainland whilst also seeing more self‐employed. In no way did the President overlook the fact that 934 people have died on the Islands due to in‐ fection caused by Covid‐19 and she called for a one‐minute silence within the Parliament chamber in memory of those victims of the disease. One reason that the situation is looking so much better, she sug‐ gested, is because of the success of the vaccination programme which in turn has seen creation of a general herd immunity to the benefit of all, although not until every person has been fully vacci‐ nated will hospitals be able to ded‐ icate themselves to attack general waiting lists.
Naturally, the President re‐ ferred to the importance of the European Recovery Fund and the fact that whilst the Balearics had been waiting for this massive in‐ jection of money, the National Government, the PSOE, which is the party she belongs to, had with ERTE and other financial support ensured that the country weath‐ ered the storm. Now it is time to look forward to a prolonged return to social and economic normality she said. Members of the opposition parties in the Parliament however criticised Armengol for appearing to be unaware of the true situa‐ tion of those who had suffered so much during the pandemic and they believed that in her speech she was overly optimistic and also triumphalist, claiming success for herself which was not warranted.
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THE Mallorca Hospitality Industry doesn’t exist on tourist visits alone and for years, Palma Palau de Congressos has attracted a large number of professional visitors to specialist conferences. These are particularly important as they attract people in the category of senior executives and medical practitioners, for example, who have the ability to spend significant amounts of money without causing the noise and mayhem that younger groups can be responsible for. The pandemic saw a very quick cancellation of conferences and exhibitions as flights were controlled, the pandemic was raging, hotels were closed and people were scared to travel. Slowly but surely however the congress business is beginning to return and although so far this year, these are mainly aimed at Spanish nationals, their money is as good as anyone else’s. As the Balearic Government encourages members of the hospitality industry to stay open and extend the season until at least November, the Congress Palace has confirmed that it will be hosting three medical congresses during September and October. Each will last between three and four days with a combination of virtual and face to face events with an expected total audience of around 5,000 medical professionals taking part. That is certainly a large number of beds being filled, taxis being booked and meals being consumed, generating money for Palma and not forgetting the gifts that have to be taken home for partners. If as we all hope, the pandemic is now to a great extent under control, these international congress meetings can only increase in number during 2022, filling a very useful hole when the summer tourists are not in Mallorca.