Palma gets ready for the ‘Three Kings’

Citizen Participation Councillor, Eberhard Grosske presented the plans for the Three Kinds parade to be held in Palma on the 5th January 2010, yesterday.

There has been a major change again this year with the start of the specatacle being put forward to 6pm. Last year there was a change to the route to accommodate more audience and provide greater viewing capacity.

As this parade is attended by the widest cross section of society of any event in the city it has been very carefully planned, allowing as many people as possible to enjoy it, explained Grosske.

Special areas along the route will be set aside for the disabled or children who are suffering from diseases such as cancer or cystic fibrosis, as well as for heavily pregnant women.

Grosske also confirmed there will be an incredible amount of four tonnes of sweets thrown into the crowds from the floats in the parade. Once again with careful consideration those planning the event have made sure that the sweets are appropriate for those with diabetes.

This year each King will travel the parade route in his own float accompanied by his pages and an entourage of around 40 people dancing and singing. Next year it is anticipated that an extra 250 people will be taking part.

There will be special postmen assigned to collect gift lists from children wishing to give their lists directly to the Kings.

Late Night Shopping brings new dynamic to Palma!

Due to the success of the late night shopping on Thursdays this summer the capital’s hotel association, bars, restaurants and local businesses want to experience a similar experience in 2010.  It has been agreed that next year in July, August and September establishments will be staying open late every night of the week except Sunday.

Bartomeu Servera, President of traders’ association AFEDECO said yesterday that in the wake of such success this year his members want ‘an even fuller’ programme to maximise business opportunities.  In order for this to happen help would be needed from government authorities, he said, to finance an ‘all summer late night shopping’ campaign.  He added that it could kick off in June and possibly extend to other commercial areas on the island such as Manacor and Inca. ‘AFEDECO members are all for shops staying open Monday to Saturday up until about 10 – 10.30.  ‘Shopkeepers should be able to stay open all the hours they want but a limit of midnight will be impose’ Severa said, ‘We’ll need to come to an agreement with the unions over the move but we don’t anticipate any problems because essentially we are talking about creating more jobs’.

He did add that it was not expected for those working in bars, cafes and restaurants should work 15 hours a day but rather that businesses would be able to adjust their timetables to cater for the client demand at that time of the year. Apparently there had been absolutely no negative feedback about this proposed campaign and many of the traders who experienced this year’s success actually said that they had never sold so much as during the late night opening hours on Thursday of this summer.

This commercial stimulus planned for next summer will hopefully act as a trigger for activity and interaction between tourists and local people.  It is time to show the international clientele that Palma experiences that this is not a city which shuts down at 8pm but is a wonderful city with much to offer and lots going on.  Servera added that if local government cooperate with AFEDECO’s plans nothing but good can come from this campaign.

It is hopeful that those against this year’s late night programe in certain areas of Palma who did not give support will think again, seeing the success, and collaborate in 2010.  The importance of small traders collaborating and working together is significant, only then can they claim their share of clients rather than letting the large department stores and hypermarkets enjoy all the takings. According to Servera his members really need to open on Saturday afternoons, even throughout the winter months, if they want to remain competitive.

Unexpectedly  one of the ally’s for this year’s Thursday late night was the Diocese of Majorca which gave permission for the Cathedral to stay open for the public during these late nights.  They have reported back that they actually enjoyed thousands of extra visitors during this time.