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THE INDEPENDENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER WITH LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS
FRIDAY 21st APRIL TO THURSDAY 4th MAY 2017 TV GUIDE
PAGES 25 -32
EDITION 574
MOVIES AT ...
FORTNIGHTLY SUPPLEMENT F
PAGES 49 -56
property p
Electric buses on the cards for Puerto
guide Easter bonanza: now summer 2017 looks positive too “Make Brexit an opportunity”
H
OTELIERS in the Canary Islands have been urged to make “Brexit” an opportunity, rather than fearing its potential detrimental impact in the years to come.
P
UERTO de la Cruz has started the process which could eventually see the tourist municipality using electric buses.
The local council has already carried out a test service in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions as part of its environmentally friendly pledge. The aim would be to connect various parts of Puerto with electric “guaguas” which would also help to cut back on noise pollution. At the request of Puerto council, the public bus
company TITSA arranged for an electric bus to be tested on the local streets. This is part of a medium-term study into sustainable transport in the town. Councillor for social services, Ángel Montañés said the authority was committed to “reducing the harmful effects of the conventional vehicle of combustion.” He added that this change of course is not only limited to
public transport but also “includes taxis (which the council already has a proposal to change), as well as vehicles and machiner y of public services. He underlined the fact that the initiative will also promote the gradual migration of private drivers to the electric vehicle through the “implementation of appropriate incentives.” The council is aiming for a change in mobility in Puerto in the coming years as part of a plan to reduce energy consumption by 50 per cent.
The plea was made to the local hotel employees association, Ashotel which so far is delighted with the prospects ahead and say the effects of Britain pulling out of Europe have not been felt. In fact, all the signs point to a very encouraging summer for Tenerife and the other islands, with the Brits still continuing to flock in. With four days of unbroken sunshine in the south of Tenerife, the beaches were packed. Latest figures suggest that the number of domestic travellers will increase as well as the arrival of tourists from Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Nordic countries in that order. According to Juan Molas, president of CEHAT, the
Federation of Spanish Hotels, “we continue in very positive numbers in the short and medium term. This does not mean that we should think that the situation will remain forever on the same path of growth, as our competitors are suffering significantly and are looking for market recovery formulas. The long-term vision tells us that there are still many things to fix and consolidate. “ Ramón Estalella, general secretary, said the best news was the increase in overnight stays and profitability outside the peak season. “The great challenge of Spanish tourism is to reduce seasonality and, at the same time, be able to put an end to the submerged economy and illegality that is growing
uncontrollably, “ he said. According to predictions, the pound will continue to depreciate against the euro and may even reach parity in 2021 which would reduce the purchasing power of British tourists. Nevertheless, the outlook for 2017 looks very positive. Economist and investments expert, Daniel Lacalle told 100 Canary businessmen and women during a forum in Tenerife that all things changed and it was best to look at this as a challenge, not a threat. He said Brexit should be considered an opportunity for the islands, saying: “You have to be optimistic and cautious because the process is long and complicated. In any case, there are several challenges that we have to face. You have to understand that things change and this does not have to be a threat.”
Police warn of new drug “80 times more powerful than cannabis”
P
OLICE have issued an urgent warning after discovering a new drug in Spain and arresting two British men on suspicion of peddling it. They say the substance is 80 times more powerful than cannabis and can have a devastating effect on the human body. Around 12,200 grams of the synthetic drug has been seized, with police estimating its street value at 3.5 million euros once processed and
distributed in doses. One of the Brits arrested is a 37-year-old man who was stopped at Alicante-Elche airport as he tried to flee the Spanish justice system. The other British suspect is aged 36. He was caught by the police near a bar where a batch of drugs was due to be
delivered. “He was preparing to collect the packages,” said a police spokesman. The substance was hidden inside a batch of bags which contained other treats and then inside coffee boxes. The drug has a lumpy texture and light colour and is dissolved in water before being sprayed on to a cigarette or cigar to impregnate and moisten it.