Post by pigeonpie on Dec 3, 2008 14:03:25 GMT
Menorca’s marine resorts ask for less bureaucratic red tape
C.M.W. Maó
Menorca is one of the most popular destinations for tourists interested in sports such as sailing, canoeing or diving, but the companies offering these types of activities often encounter bureaucratic problems when applying for licences or in the lack of infrastructure, sometimes over simple issues such as decent signposting. These are concerns expressed by the presidents of the island’s three marine resorts (Mao, Ciutadella and Fornells) who will today hold a general meeting for their members in the hostal Jeni in Es Mercadal, an open event to which Narcis Coll has been invited as a speaker, in his role as president of L’Estartit Marine Resort, one of the first in Spain.
C.M.W. Maó
Menorca is one of the most popular destinations for tourists interested in sports such as sailing, canoeing or diving, but the companies offering these types of activities often encounter bureaucratic problems when applying for licences or in the lack of infrastructure, sometimes over simple issues such as decent signposting. These are concerns expressed by the presidents of the island’s three marine resorts (Mao, Ciutadella and Fornells) who will today hold a general meeting for their members in the hostal Jeni in Es Mercadal, an open event to which Narcis Coll has been invited as a speaker, in his role as president of L’Estartit Marine Resort, one of the first in Spain.
The marine resorts’ obejctives for the coming year are: to improve relations with the administrations; publicise the “marine resort” theme on the island and abroad; and to carry out promotions for their activities. The presidents of the three resorts, Dámaso de la Cruz (Ciutadella), Carme Roselló (Fornells) and Maria Teresa Gustems (Máo) believe that the public support the idea but that a better understanding of all that is involved is needed, adding that tourists seeking nautical activities will also bring benefits to the other complementary offers.
Licences
One of the main complaints, expressed by all three presidents, is the delay in licences being granted to companies allowing them to run their activities every season. They explained that sometimes they have to start working with licences issued by word of mouth and that applications for licences made in December are not answered until June or July, while they have to employ staff from the beginning of May. This all serves to create a feeling of insecurity among the companies, to impede investment in the training of pesonnel and has repercussions on the quality of service. They fail to understand why companies which have been running nautical activities for years have to renew their licences every season.
Another point raised by the three presidents concerns the sharing of responsibility for nautical activites between different authorities (Town Councils, the Capitanía Marítima, the Coastal Authorities and the Port Authority) which can result in problems, such as the lack of infrastructure, taking years to resolve. They believe the Town Councils should collaborate more with the marine resorts, citing L’Estartit as an example.
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Licences
One of the main complaints, expressed by all three presidents, is the delay in licences being granted to companies allowing them to run their activities every season. They explained that sometimes they have to start working with licences issued by word of mouth and that applications for licences made in December are not answered until June or July, while they have to employ staff from the beginning of May. This all serves to create a feeling of insecurity among the companies, to impede investment in the training of pesonnel and has repercussions on the quality of service. They fail to understand why companies which have been running nautical activities for years have to renew their licences every season.
Another point raised by the three presidents concerns the sharing of responsibility for nautical activites between different authorities (Town Councils, the Capitanía Marítima, the Coastal Authorities and the Port Authority) which can result in problems, such as the lack of infrastructure, taking years to resolve. They believe the Town Councils should collaborate more with the marine resorts, citing L’Estartit as an example.
Read more on this article
