TW
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Which is the day of the week when shops enjoy the most sales in Palma? Well the answer is simple: Sunday. Yes, you have to take into account that only a small number of shops are open, but those which do open enjoy record sales. So the question has to be asked: why don´t more shops open on a Sunday, especially in the summer?

In the city centre around Jaime III all shops have the green light to open their doors for business. But only a handful do so, which is a scandalous state of affairs, especially when Palma is full of cruise ship passengers all desperate to find a souvenir to take home.

Palma city council and the Balearic government need to change the licensing laws so that all shops can open on a Sunday, not just those in the city centre. Hundreds of small retailers have gone to the wall in the last five years and I suspect that others will follow if they continue with their present trading practices. Times are changing and smaller shops need to react, not just the larger ones. It is quite outrageous that some shops do not even open on a Saturday afternoon. If the smaller shops want to continue with their five and a half day week, fine, but don't complain about poor takings during the winter.

Palma is a tourist capital and every oppurtunity needs to be seized to ensure that tourists can buy and at the same time local businesses can make a profit. At the moment it is a case of opportunity missed.