Tourist recovery is getting stronger. How do you see Mallorca? Are there many tourists this summer?
We have a tourism sector with a very good inertia in terms of recovery. We started January with dark clouds due to the omicron, but there was an element of security due to vaccination. This has made the Balearic Islands, Mallorca and Spain some of the most desirable destinations, and data reaffirms international leadership every month. In order to make an accurate assessment not only on the basis of volume but also on the basis of expenditure, we need to look at all indicators. In June, the Balearic Islands passed the pre-pandemic period. We want tourists with higher added value and average length of stay, and that’s what we see. The path should be to de-seasonally de-season the destination, the islands are open all year, and we need to strengthen the tourist products other than sun and beach. We support with the Spanish Tourism Experiences program from the government, very soon local and foreign tourists will learn about alternative products for visiting us.
Carmen Riu has always argued that tourism in Mallorca should be limited; The same can be observed in Eivissa, if he thinks there is too much space on the island. Has another hotelier raised the same concern to you?
We are currently trying to save the industry after two years of pandemic and tourist absence. It is essential that it modernizes and attracts higher-spending tourists throughout the year. In this discussion we are not only working with the autonomous communities – those who have the power to decide which model they want – but also with the industry at the Spanish Tourism Council. We started a discussion to define the roadmap for 2030. This is where risks and strengths will emerge as a highly desirable destination. Before perhaps the measure of restraint more internalized by Carmen, we should rethink what destiny’s strengths and weaknesses are. It is a very positive factor that the average length of stay increases by one day with the increase in expenses. Often days are left to see the destination, which clogs major cities and tourist destinations like Palma.
The tourist rental offer continues to generate controversy. Will the government introduce regulation of an activity that disturbs hoteliers and harms coexistence?
We have always advocated that tourist housing should be regulated. As soon as we came to the government, we created a table. The pandemic has diverged priorities, but we’re taking this necessary discussion once again. It should be organized to include the European debate. European directives don’t always help, and in the second half of 2023, when Spain holds the presidency, we promised we could raise this debate to the European level to harmonize regulations, which sometimes kept us from being enough. to put the platform control.
The worry this winter was the uncertainty the war in Ukraine could create for the summer holidays. How do you evaluate the impact of the conflict and the season?
There was a lot of doubt at the time, the truth is that the tourism industry is recovering and has actually gained more momentum than we expected. We were quite realistic in our estimates and Spain has established itself as one of the main destinations. We see autumn and winter with anxiety, but we also take precautions. There is confidence in travel, where the measures we take are fundamental and solve the inflation problem. If families lose their purchasing power, they may decide not to travel. For this, we made shock plans that mobilized 30 million euros with fuel reduction and more than 80% reduction in electricity tax. We are preparing ourselves, it is inflation that worries us the most in the European environment. For now, reserves are doing well, we haven’t seen the effects of the war, but all shock plans are focused on minimizing the impact of inflation. We want consumption unaffected.
The 27-degree limit on the air conditioner is causing criticism among restaurateurs, merchants and hoteliers.
We try to take measures based on consensus as much as possible. This is a commitment undertaken by Spain in the EU. Due to Spain’s strengths (as an energy island, its gasification network and above all our solidarity with our partners, especially France), we needed to reduce energy expenditure by 15% and we got an exception with 7%. Two ways to respond to Putin’s blackmail are to save money and invest in energy efficiency. We have strengthened support for the tertiary sector, there is currently 270 million euros and we are avoiding the more drastic measures that other countries will have to take. The decree has enough flexibility to accommodate exceptions, but this regulation is necessary.
President Ayuso called for a boycott of energy-saving measures when the popular president proposed a similar plan.
Here again you see how the PP leaders faced Feijóo again. It has already happened in Casado, let’s see how Mr. Feijóo keeps order in the house. Also, Murcia and the PP spokesperson threatened not to comply with these measures, and this does not fit Europe. Spain is a supportive country and we took advantage of being in the EU and Spain has to comply. It’s always no for good, denial. They rejected ERTE, ICO and questioned the state of alarm. The government is here to take measures considering the collective interests, not the individual. And PP is more concerned with partisan interests. We are a government that does not improvise.
Journalist Ramón Lobo said on Twitter, “If Feijóo does not finish Ayuso, Ayuso will finish Feijóo”, do you share it?
As a minister, I prefer to be more institutional. What the People’s Party has to do is think about Spain. PP is necessary, the main force of the opposition. You should consider how you can trust the uncertainties of the business sector and families. Denialism is a form of opposition, but we do not know which country project Feijóo has, just as we do not know with Casado.
Are they nervous about the poll results in the PSOE, especially after the Andalusian elections?
The best polls are ballot boxes. There were three choices, each very different from the other: Andalusia, Castilla y León and Madrid. By chance, the coalition governments were broken and the elections were brought forward. PSOE has yet to crack any of them. They always try to create instability, but we are a progressive government that faces enormous challenges and always put Spaniards beyond thinking about certain differences. Unfortunately, Vox got into Castilla y León, I think PP will regret this coalition. We’re already seeing this, all we see in a hundred days is revolution (funding cuts for gender violence or mismanagement of fires). They see Spain in black and white, we see it in colour. We will try to create hope in the year before the regional and municipal elections.
Mallorca and Eivissa’s old problems are back: drunken tourism and deaths from the balcony.
Efforts are being made and we are helping the Government to limit excessive tourism. There is a very important aspect of raising awareness, and we must continue to reinforce it, as in traffic accidents. The private sector and tour operators are also competent in setting limits. It shouldn’t be what we sell outside for the tourist to have one of the best experiences. The element of loyalty is essential, Spain has 40%, we want more and we talk about the strengths of the islands and that tourism should be limited so that this does not come into discussion.
Punctures are spreading to women in the nightlife, there are cases also in Mallorca and Eivissa, what can we do about this phenomenon?
The government delegate told me that they held a meeting to analyze where this happened and how it could be prevented. It is a different type of violence, prevention comes first and when it is realized that it is a crime, the law is there to protect women.
Summer weather chaos in Spain not at the level of European airports. Why hasn’t the precarity of low-cost workers, who even violated labor regulations, ended?
Matizo, you talk about chaos but there are certain incidents due to strikes but it has nothing to do with other airports. We did not lose workers, they were protected by ERTE, which means we are in better conditions. We work with Transport to have companies renew contracts if necessary. Especially in the tourism sector, where temporary employment is more abused, labor legislation must be complied with before the labor reform and even more so now. We appeal to the responsibility of unions and employers to find solutions to conflicts and not affect passengers.
The industry has suffered from completing the templates. They point to Management to solve this structural problem. Are they also responsible for this problem?
It is a structural problem that we experienced before the pandemic. We all need to figure this out and see that we don’t have the right profiles to cover hard-to-fill positions. What can we do from management? Above all, training and incentives to facilitate hiring. We work with employers in hotels and restaurants on a professional card. Companies should also do their part by defining professional profiles of difficult occupations. We have also improved the regulations to bring the foreign population into certain positions.
Unemployment has increased.
My vision is different from alarm, perhaps because I am an expert in the labor market. You always have to look at the trend. The tourism sector always compensates for the others, especially education, during the summer months – the provisional figure is still very present. This year, tourism hiring has advanced since April, and the stabilization of the workforce due to labor reform means that for the first time this sector has not made up for the training loss in July. Let’s see the trend. I have two extraordinary data right now, under 3 million unemployment and over 20 million Social Security members.
Hoteliers are in a battle for Imserso trips. Are they right to demand Minister Belarra to raise prices?
I want to transfer my confidence to the program, it is guaranteed; Feijóo made some noise during his visit to Benidorm. There should be improvements in both areas: improving experience – retirees are not the same as they were twenty years ago – and the claims of the industry. I hope the workgroup I’m looking for can be created. But the problem isn’t just Imserso’s design, the program has to do with the intermediaries (joint ventures), they’re the ones who bid for the program and often go for lows that aren’t necessary. It came out with a 13% increase in prices last year and no increase in the programs they offer. UTEs are also part of the solution. We should try to set a fair price.
With the inflationary escalation, is the tourist revival in 2023 in danger?
In the face of uncertainty, we always have to take offers. That’s why I always use the word trust. Nothing can be done here, PP’s position is to wear down this Government. You have to look for solutions. Citizens will continue to travel and consume if they see effective policies. We have seen many projects submitted with European funds. As for the famous tourist demand for PERTE, I think the 3,400 million we spend (in three years) is substantial enough to talk about a PERTE, but I’m speaking to see what else we can do in terms of energy efficiency or investment. leading destinations We authorized 916 million euros last year, this year we will realize 1,413 million euros. In three to four years we will see real changes in quality, sustainability, innovation… The industry complains but sees how opportunities are and has always been at the forefront of change.
Source: Informacion
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