ISSUE NO. 1410
12 - 18 JULY 2012
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
FRONT EXTRA
Passengers flee bus fire FOUR passengers on board a bus travelling on the MA-19 towards Llucmajor had to make their escape when the engine caught fire. By the time firefighters arrived on the scene, the bus driver had already extinguished the flames.
Airport shops BIG DISCOUNTS: But many shoppers are not being lured in.
FED UP WITH PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE?
902 88 90 70
Mallorca’s summer sales fail to impress ALTHOUGH shop-owners across Mallorca have expressed a variety of opinions about this summer’s sales, the general consensus is that they are proving to be unsuccessful. Commercial management firm Pimeco evaluated how the first week of the sales had gone compared to last month and last year.
Pimeco recently rated the region’s activity at five points out of 10, after 10 months of lower ratings. Sixty per cent of Mallorca shopowners reported improved sales since May; 70 per cent in Palma agreed while only 50 per cent on the rest of the island saw any improvement.
Before the start of this year’s sales, 12 per cent of shopkeepers predicted improved activity; 39 per cent believed sales would decrease and 49 per cent believed that it would be about the same as in 2011. After the first week of sales, 33 per cent of shopkeepers reported an improvement while 53 per cent saw a decrease. Fourteen per cent of shops had results similar to last year. President of the Inca Shopkeepers Pep Nicolau The region was beaten only by said that customers had spent an average of €65 Cataluña’s 24 Blue Flags. Two ports in Ibiza, another two in each, €20 less than in Menorca and one in Formentera account 2011. He has higher hopes for the autumn season, for the remaining Blue Flag recipients. saying: “Starting in September, business will get stronger.” Ex-president of the same group, Rafael Cortes, was less optimistic, claiming: “Until Inca provides free parking to shoppers, business will not improve.”
Blue Flags fly over islands SIXTEEN of Mallorca’s ports and clubs have been awarded Blue Flag status, helping the Balearic region to claim the title of second most awarded region in Spain, with 21 flags.
PALMA Airport has inaugurated five new businesses and two restaurants. They include clothing shops, and ‘multishops’ which sell everything from sweets to handbags. This is part of the airport’s campaign to diversify.
Safety first OF the 67 breath tests carried out by police in Northern Mallorca on one day, only three drivers were under the influence of alcohol. The heightened control is part of Mallorca’s push towards safety in urban areas.
Chair attack A BRITON was arrested by Calvia Police after allegedly hitting a young Spaniard in the face with a metal chair in Magalluf. The victim sustained a deep laceration running from his forehead to his lips.