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Vol. 13 Issue 338 www.theolivepress.es March 4th - March 17th, 2020
Travel trouble By Dimitris Kouimtsidis
NERVOUS hoteliers and restaurateurs are bracing themselves for the devastating effect coronavirus could have on Spain’s tourism industry. They are joined by tourist chiefs who fear a major hit to critical Semana Santa week, which heralds the start of the holiday season. It comes as Spain has seen its number of cases soar to over 150, with the number in Madrid doubling almost overnight. Data from travel analytics firm ForwardKeys shows international flights booked from the UK and the US were down almost 20% for a five-week period up until February 23. British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair and Lufthansa have all started cancelling flights within Europe and those to China. Some have drastically cut prices in order to fill empty seats, with Ryanair reducing flights to Italy by 25%. Stocks are plummeting too, with IAG,
Hotel and restaurant owners watch with fear as the coronavirus tightens its grip on Spain and Europe ahead of Semana Santa
the company that owns British Airways, Vueling and Iberia suffering a drop in value of more than 9%, the highest of any company in the Ibex 35. The International Air Transport Association estimates that the virus outbreak will cost the sector more than €26 billion in 2020. Travel and tourism analyst, Ralph Hollister, from GlobalData said: “If the virus is still having the same impact by the end of April, cancellations could start to increase at a rapid rate as consumers deem the risk to their health to be greater than their need for a holiday.”
With Semana Santa starting on April 5, businesses in Spain are worried about whether one of Spain’s busiest weeks will go ahead as normal. More than a million visitors traditionally descend on Sevilla and Malaga combined during Holy Week. A total of 14% of Spain’s Gross Domestic Product comes from tourism, according to the European Travel Commission. It’s Executive Director Eduardo Santander said: “The impact of the virus on European tourism will be massive — we’re talking about big losses.” But despite the surge in cases here, the UK authorities has yet to issue travel warnings to the country, as Spain has done with Italy. The UK Foreign Office simply insists that travellers should comply with any additional screening measures put in place by the Spanish authorities. Meanwhile, football may be the most see page 4
Opinion Page 4
PLUS: The opinions of ten leading ladies to celebrate International Women’s Day See special supplied inside 23 A special four-page pullout
March 2020
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WE CAN DO ANYTHING!
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N equal world is 1911, so now in a new cenan enabled world. tury and a new decade are Over a century after This is the theme of we making International Women’s Day a difference? International Women's Day 2020. On March At first glance, it’s easy to first started, Karen Livermore 8 the spotlight turns to wo- say yes. There’s something asks, are things really any men throughout the world in the air that feels like real who are striving for gender change. The #metoo and better in 2020? #timesup movements were parity in the workplace, media giants, companies, in unpalatable men from their their businesses, in sports, a palpable moment where politicians and stars. women were not only being Bein culture and arts, and ing male, rich and powerful positions, but the views in heard, but their voices they represent, from public were was suddenly no their communities. longer a acceptance. powerful. They were calling The movement started in out previously untouchable shield. Out of it has come a Things that matter to and real effort to shift, not only affect women, are finally
getting heard, and action women is still alarming. Last is being taken. But there is still so far to go. We may be year was a dark 12 months celebrating the downfall of in Spain with 55 women kiHarvey Weinstein, and the lled either by partners or ex shaming of Placido Domin- partners. The highest figure go over his admission of se- since 2015. It's not the only xually harassed women, but country where these figuin Saudi Arabia women are res are rising. However, in still high fiving their right to a disturbing move the Vox own a passport without the party is lobbying for cuts in funding to combat genconsent of a male guardian. Gender violence against Continues overleaf
We needed to change the work culture Women on the frontline in Spain
Let’s raise a glass to celebrate national Women’s Day 2020 Interor, as we say in Spain, Día Internacional de la Mujer. Ten women in all walks of life share theirSpain from views and inspirational stories
Ana Botín, President of the Santander banking group
that we needed to change the work culture and in doing so society if we wanted to see advances in the field of equality.
“Since then these ideas have been reflected in the equal opportunity policies that we first pushed for in Banesto, then in Santander
in the UK and more recently in the Santander continued. “In that speechgroup as a whole,” she ot only was Ana Botín I emphasised the bedame by Queen Elizabeth made an honorary nefits of diversity in the company. II for services to the And with data Financial sector in 2015, she was also awarded from different studies, I explained that having the first Award for Responsible more women in managerial positions, apart from taking the helm the year before. Capitalism after being fair, was good for business. Besides talent, Ana, 59, is also a pioneer. The first woman to run women bring skills to business that complement a major European bank, she’s those of men – better interpersonal communicaon the Forbes’ list of World’s been ranked eigth tion, cooperation, horizontal men. Within her corporation, Most Powerful Wo- city to really listen as well thinking and a capaas more empathy and has made a point of boosting this financial whizz the ability to prioritise.” female direction, ai- Botín ming for 30% of its CEOs has also introduced a life-work balance (they currently account forto be women by 2025 scheme because, ‘one of the aim is technical equality, 20%). Beyond 2025, tunities lies in domestic the keys to equal opporwork.’ 40% ratio, irrespective of which means a 60%- She said: “For men to increase gender. In an article she published responsibility, we need public their share of this policies that allow in response to a debate overon her LinkedIn page for greater flexibility in the workplace.” tials, she wrote, “I have spenther feminist creden- Ana is adamant there will be years no as discrepancy an execuin tive; years in which I have seen enough to know salaries between male and female staff members that in general women don’t taking on equal responsibility in a banking instituspeech delivered to a room get a fair deal… In a tion that is ranked 16th in the world. in 2008, I talked about the full of men in Bilbao Forbes magazine also notes importance of women that Botín has a poacting with more confidence licy of ‘backing small companies in ourselves and owned and companies by women’.
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