Balneario, chiringuito. They are the same thing - a beach bar - but with their distinct origins. The balneario (spa) dates back to the early years of the last century and to buildings by the sea that were for health and leisure purposes. The chiringuito was more improvised and typically involved a reed thatch, the first said to have been in Sitges in the 1940s. The word is Cuban.
Whatever the term, the beach bars of Mallorca are currently faced with a recruitment problem. The association for the beach bars says they are struggling to find workers for Easter, a problem made that much more pressing by the good prospects for tourism over Easter.
The possible staff shortages don't end at Easter, the beach bars being faced by precisely the same issues as the rest of the hospitality industry in Mallorca. These are familiar enough, e.g. difficulties in attracting staff from outside the island and the high cost and limited availability of accommodation.
On top of this, explains association president Onofre Fornés, there are the slow administrative procedures for concessions and licences. Town halls issue these, but town halls have themselves to wait for authorisations from the Balearic Government's coasts directorate. These delays usually occur when town halls have to apply for renewals.
Even so, Fornés is anticipating a good summer and says beach bars "continue to be a key driver of employment and added value in Mallorca's tourist resorts". "Beach bars and beach services enrich the tourist experience and play a fundamental role in promoting quality tourism on the island." But he is asking for improved coordination by the relevant authorities to help consolidate beach bars "as an essential part of the Balearic tourism model of the future".
4 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Ulla JacksonA reduction in the number of tourists = a reduction in the number of people coming to Mallorca to work in tourism = less demand for the non existing housing. Mallorca already has full employment in the summer so there is no need to increase the numbers of tourists. The only people who benefit from this are the multi national hotel chains.
If you cannot find workers it’s because your wages are not competitive. They can raise the wage, and increase prices to consumers (or find ways to reduce costs). The solution of importing cheaper labor is a trap. You’ll end up subsidizing them in some other ways. Business owners prefer this because it keeps their bottom lines lower.
Zoltan TeglasI can't quite get your view. Can't get locals to work in low paid jobs. Therefore it's needed reduction of tourists as you obviously believe only tourists use the beach bars and restaurants.
Surely this is part of the problem - locals don't want to do these jobs (low wages?) so they have to get people in from elsewhere. These people need somewhere to live. So tens of thousands of people move here for work. There isn't anywhere for them to stay. The only answer to this is a reduction in tourist numbers as it is not sustainable. And of course politicians are doing absolutely nothing, despite saying all the right things.