05/04/2013 00:00
TW
0
STAFF REPORTER PALMA

THE Balearic government has allocated over 3'200'000 euros to finance 269 tourist police jobs aimed at improving citizen security this year, a spokesman said yesterday. Agreements, which will mean a 10 percent rise in Local Police out on the beat during the summer, have reportedly been made with nearly all municipalities in the Islands.

Balearic President Francesc Antich attended in person the signing of the funding agreements for Majorca, accompanied by regional Justice minister, Pilar Costa. The ceremony with the Mayors of Ibiza and Formentera took place last weekend and one is yet to take place on Minorca.

This year, 205 tourist police jobs will be paid for on Majorca, 32 on Minorca and 30 for Ibiza and Formentera.

The Tourist Police force was created back in 2004 to create greater safety for residents and visitors and to promote control over crime through collaboration with local town councils. Yesterday, there were representatives of the Local Police who attended the funding ceremony anxious that the government should bring stability to these recently created posts, and not just restrict trained officers to working on a seasonal basis.

During the presentation, President Antich highlighted the importance of tightening security for residents and tourists in the Balearics, especially during the summer months when the influx of visitors is particularly high. He pointed out that tourism generates 60 percent of the Balearic gross product (PIB) and is therefore the “motor” of other sectors of the economy.

President Antich spoke positively of the coming tourist season which anticipates the arrival of one million more holiday-makers than came in 2010. He claimed that this surge will mean the creation of a further 10'000 jobs. Antich said that part of this significant increase in visitors is due to the political turmoil in North Africa, with those who might have chosen to go to Tunisia or Egypt, “playing safe” and instead heading for Spain and the Balearic Islands. He urged all tourist businesses and service industries to make sure that these “ad hoc” holiday-makers will want to come back to the Islands on other occasions.