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PALMA BOAT SHOW IS CALLED OFF
Palma.—Obviously, there was some sadness, anger and disappointment when the decision was taken late on Wednesday night, but the organisers had little choice.
Only about a third of last year’s exhibitors had signed up for this year’s event and that would mean that the show would struggle to break even, so it was not financially feasible to go ahead with the trade fair.
It had already been decided that, had it gone ahead, this year’s show would have been more compact than in previous years and run for a shorter period.
But, since February 8, when it became clear that there was not much appetite for the event amongst the nautical industry, organisers had been considering scrapping this year’s fair completely.
In view of the current financial crisis, the Balearic government reduced the costs of staging the fair by 16 percent and the organising committee slashed participation rates for exhibitors by 30 percent, but that still was not enough to pull in the numbers to make the event cost effective.
The Director General for Commerce and Business, Cesar Nuño Pacheco, said at a press conference given yesterday morning that it was a “sad day.
“But, we have to listen to the message from the nautical industry and postpone the fair.”
However, for the most part, the nautical industry does not consider it a “ sad day” at all, in fact, many nautical businesses believe that this could be the blessing in disguise and an opportunity to reinvent the boat show next year, which will be its 30th anniversary.
Jonathan Syrett, the Palma-based director of Camper & Nicholsons Spain and Portugal was at Wednesday night’s meeting.
Yesterday he said the decision is “good and bad. I know some people are sad and were all geared up for the fair with high expectations but I think the right decision was made.
“Quite simply there were not enough exhibitors to make the event worth while.
“But, personally, and I know many other people feel the same way, this will give us a chance to take stock of what the fair has done and how it has been staged over the past 29 years and adopt a new approach to next year’s event.
“We can now take a step backwards and have a good look at what we’ve been doing and why it went wrong.
“We now have a clean sheet of paper and this will give us all an opportunity to get involved in designing and creating a new show which is more tailored to what the nautical industry really wants.
“I know the government is heavily committed to getting it right for next year and wants the nautical industry to be more involved in organising the fair.
“I’ve already heard some very exciting and interesting ideas and we also want to see the large yachting sector more involved as well as the repair and refit sectors which are the real driving forces behind the nautical industry here in Palma.
“So, we can now work towards relaunching something very special for next year.
“I envisage the fair becoming a mini-Monaco,” Syrett said.
Frosty welcome for Euro PP
Palma.—European members of the Partido Popular gathering in Palma yesterday received a frosty reception from trade unionists, members of the general public and the local opposition parties over the new wave of cuts regional governments have been asked to make to help central government reach its deficit targets.
The Balearic government has to find 350 million euros either by raising taxes or introducing further cuts.
And yesterday, the parliamentary spokesperson for the left wing PSM-IV-ExM coalition, Biel Barcelo, said that he is totally opposed to any further cuts which will cause further damage to the region’s health, education and social services.
Hospitals, in particular A&E, are already reaching breaking points because of cuts already introduced by the Partido Popular governments in Madrid and Palma and there are fears of schools closing.
Both Barcelo and Socialist leader Francina Armengol met Balearic President Jose Ramon Bauza yesterday to listen to his plans.
Armengol emerged claiming that Madrid still owes the Balearics 640 million euros, and that would wipe out the Balearics’s debt. The PM, Mariano Rajoy, was in Palma yesterday and Armengol urged Bauza to ask him for the region’s money.
Extra tourism information points in Palma
Palma.—Palma’s Tourism Councillor, Alvaro Gijon, yesterday announced that this summer, Palma will have extra tourism information centres.
The new service is going to be outsourced to a private company and apart from providing basic information, the outlets will also sell souvenirs, entrance tickets to museums, monuments and shows.
Those manning the information centres will also be able to recommend restaurants and shops.
Gijon explained that the concession, which will be put out to tender for 315'000 euros, involves the winning bidder taking over the four existing tourist information centres in Casal Solleric, Plaza de España, Parc de la Mar and the Playa de Palma and staffing them with trained and knowledgeable people, as well as operating two mobile information centres during the months of April, May and October and two more from June to September, the peak of the summer season.
Gijon said that, add to those the information centres in the airport and the Port of Palma, the capital will have a total of ten information points this season.
The mobile information centres will be open every day between 9am and 8pm and they will also be required to document all the complaints or comments made by holiday makers.
Profitable
Gijon said that the council wants to have a more “proactive” approach to tourist information by not only interacting more with visitors and being able to provide in-depth information, the centres will be able to sell merchandise approved by the Palma 365 Tourism Foundation.
Gijon said that a similar public/private venture has already proved successful and profitable in Barcelona.
Playa de Palma reform project hits the buffers - again
Central government has confirmed that it will not be pumping any money into the troubled Playa de Palma reformation project this year because of the general lack of funds.
Initially, Madrid had agreed to invest 10 million euros per year and the Spanish tourist board, Turespaña an extra two million.
But, it looks like the project, which has yet to get off the ground, is now in serious financial difficulties and may have to be revised.
City council sources said yesterday that in order for the project to get going, it is going to need an injection of funds from the private sector, although, it looks like the project to build a casino and hotel on the Ses Fontanelles site is going to go ahead along with a “wellness” centre nearby.
Charley Ray Myers fundraising effort
Calvia.—Friends of little Charley Ray Myers have once more demonstrated their mettle by organising a Spinathon at Illes gym in Calvia raising 2'210 euros and with donations from The British Bakery, Avance Car Hire, Bodhana Wellness Centre, Puerto Portals, Kutz Salon, Magalluf, The Snooker Café, El Toro and Illes Gym, Calvià the current total stands at a staggering 6'718 euros.
At the outset the target had appeared insurmountable, but now the ever optimistic Support Charley fundraising co-ordinator Linda Ledwidge says, “Only 2'618 euros required! I have been amazed by the efforts of so many local people and their willingness to take part in walks, marathons and other activities. This money will pay for a replacement cochlea implant device.”
The latest news is that The Viva Roadrunners, a group of fitness enthusiasts, will further boost funds when they take part in the Palma half marathon next Sunday. Two well known local companies, Pinmar the yacht painting company and Webbs International Removals in addition to Monarch Airlines have generously agreed to sponsor the runners who will sport tee shirts bearing the companies’ logos.
Progress
Since the loss of Charley’s original hearing device and whilst fundraising was in progress for a new one, Linda Ledwidge had tried, without success, to find an insurance company in Spain willing to insure the new device. Finally she sought the advice of Steve Bicknell at Insurance Express and he approached insurance companies in the UK; his tenacity eventually paid dividends, a UK company are now prepared to insure the device in an all risks policy.
Charley is due to return to London’s Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital at the end of next month; his mother Debbie is convinced that the specialists will be impressed by Charley’s progress. This is excellent news for everyone who has been touched by the little boy’s fighting spirit.
Palma to have free public toilets, at last.
Palma City Council has buckled under pressure from tour operators and tourists who have been increasing the pressure on the local authority to install public toilets in the city centre and key tourist areas.
Yesterday, the council announced that this summer, there will be six free public toilets in the city centre and admitted that it has been under mounting pressure from the tour firms and visitors for many years to sort the problem of a lack of public toilets out.
“It’s a vital service which we need to be providing and the cost is manageable,” a city council source said.
The toilets will be in the Parc de la Mar, Plaza de España and the calles Conquistador and San Miguel, la Cuesta de Santo Domingo and the Paseo Mallorca.
They will be vandalism-proof and their upkeep and maintenance will be taken care of by a private company.
