World Of Tourism

Traffic volumes on the Cartagena-Vera extension of the AP7 motorway seem to have recovered a little from the trough experienced last year, even although it is difficult to compare the figures directly because the figures given then and now relate to differrent, but overlapping, time-periods in the two years.In the first 5 months of 2010 the average traffic volume is given as having risen 9 per

S&P, one of the three major ratings agencies, have down-graded Spain's debt by a notch to AA status (it was AA+ previously), with the additional mention of 'negative outlook'. Financing costs for Spain's debt have not so far been impacted negatively to any great degree.

Unemployment in Spain has slightly surpassed 20 per cent, with 4,612,700 out of work at end-March, an increase of 286,200 over the quarter. President Zapatero is predicting that the rate of unemployment will drop slightly in coming months, but providing absolutely no justification for this sentiment except his 'conviction'.It is interesting that these statistics were published early (they should

If I had known a couple of years ago that my virginity was actually worth something more than just "making it special" I would have maybe considered doing what Unigirl from New Zealand did to ensure her education was paid for. This 19 year old from New Zealand sold her virginity online for around 45 000 New Zealand Dollars. This seems to be the 21st century way to financial freedom, an American girl did it, an Italian girl did it and these are just the ones we know about.

There are people who are up in arms about this claiming its immoral and horrifically sad. I can't help but wonder if this is just the proverbial means to an end. We are in a recession, times are tough and people are suffering. I was one of the lucky few who didn't have to worry about how my education was being paid for but what about the thousands that spend the rest of their lives paying off enormous education debts? And I can assure you no one wants to start off their new life, degree in hand, with a fat loan hanging over them.

But I also can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that there are people out there willing to pay (and well) to have sex with a virgin. Surely you would want to sleep with someone who has some sexual experience? or is that the crux of the issue here? A virgin can't really tell if it was good or not. I remember my first experience and it was nothing to write home about, it was uncomfortable, at times painful and was pretty mediocre now that I can look back on it with some reference. But I knew who he was, I had spent a lot of time with him and of course, feelings were there. It must be terrifying have sex with a stranger for your very first time.

I can't seem to find myself on either side, I'm once again somewhere in the middle. I understand the reasoning and pity the action but it's not my life and maybe we should all take a little sage advice, "keep your nose out of other people's business!"

Barcelona-based Catalan-British economist Edward Hugh reproduces in his Bonobo Land blog the English text of his La Vanguardia interview (in Spanish) with Paul Krugman, Nobel Economics prize-winner and holder of Professorial posts at both Princeton and the LSE. The interview is wider-ranging than Spain, but does give a pretty clear exposition of where the country now finds itself. It's well-worth

(Please see UPDATE at end)Traffic volumes on the Cartagena-Vera extension of the AP7 motorway have fallen far short of expectations during its first two plus years of operation, largely attributed to the fact that for almost the whole of its length it is a toll road (98 of 114 Km length) and exacerbated by the recession which has accelerated the deterioration in usage levels in the last year.A

Mazarron Council was in extraordinary session on 6th August to agree budget reductions for next year in view of the economic downturn. Highlights of decisions taken include:- the ordinances governing property taxes and the increase in land value have been amended such that the rate of IBI tax will for next year be reduced from 0.67 to 0.55 per cent, a reduction of slightly less than 15 per cent.-

And regrettably it has certainly not improved in the two months since that report was broadcast - even if certain right-wing factions might be heartened by some aspects of the downturn.

While chatting to a friend the other day about the recession, go figure, we were having a laugh at the fact that the sex industry must be one of those industries that doesn't feel the effect and is continually booming. In all seriousness, there's nothing funny about the sex industry but to my surprise I found a story this morning that blows that theory right out of the water.

Brothels in Germany are coming up with a range of promotions in order to keep themselves afloat. I did a double take reading that, promotions and brothels are two words in the English language that I would never have put together but the recession is doing all kinds of crazy things, so I shouldn't be too surprised. You must be itching to know what kind of promotions I'm talking about. Well the first and most prominent is a deal that would knock any mans socks off, for a single fee you are allowed to sleep with as many prostitutes as you like. Sort of an all you can eat special. Tasteless joke.....

The sex trade industry has fallen around 30 percent in the economic downturn. Sex is clearly a luxury that some cannot afford. Other imaginative offers include rebates for pensioners and people on benefits, 10 per cent discounts for men who arrive by bicycle or public transport, and free shoe-polishing for customers who stay overnight. But it is the flat-rate deals – which are priced as low as 70 Euros – that have attracted particular controversy in a country where prostitution is legal and generally well-tolerated.

Now the conservative politicians of the country are calling this immoral and disgusting and are saying that it should not be allowed. I personally don't blame them but this promotion is not illegal and that's where the problem comes in. Don't underestimate a politicians sneakiness, raids are being organized by police that will focus on immigration and hygiene offences and I can only imagine how many offences are currently taking place in these brothels, it's a cunning plan that just might work.

It seems my friend and I were completely unaware of what is really taking place within the sex industry and I'm sure when I relay the message we wont be laughing anymore.

We've all joked about it at one time in our lives, when money's tight and food starts becoming a luxury we can't afford, especially in this recession, robbing a bank becomes the family joke. If we don't laugh about it, we'll cry. I've often played out scenarios in my mind about being fabulously wealthy, opening up a beach bar in Hawaii and living the good life. Well it seems the family joke is become a reality.

Spain's banking association has reported a 20 per cent increase in the number of robberies carried out at high street branches in the last two years. With Spain suffering the highest level of unemployment in Europe and banks denying credit, the trend is towards first time offenders attempting heists usually reserved for hardened criminals.

Among those recently apprehended is a building contractor who allegedly held up four banks around Barcelona stealing 80,000 euros before he was caught attempting his fifth heist. The 52 year-old man, identified as Ausencio CG, told police he used the money to pay his creditors and employees and fund his daughter's studies when his business started to fail with the collapse of Spain's decade long construction boom last year.

I laughed when I first read this because it seemed too unreal, people robbing banks to survive through the recession but this is no laughing matter. How desperate do you have to be to do this? The fear of imprisonment alone is enough to stop anyone but clearly when the world turns it's back on you, you turn your back on the world. It's a scary thought and would the punishment fit the crime? A man trying to keep his family alive gets punished for resorting to crime when there are no other options? It's a catch 22 and I don't see it ending any time soon.

Times are getting tougher and people are frantically looking for a good way out of it, BBVA a leading Spanish Bank has found a good solution, well depending on which way you look at it. Employees of BBVA, Spain's second biggest bank, are being offered 30 per cent of their usual salary in return for staying away from work for between three and five years. Anyone for a paid holiday?

Anyone signing up to the scheme is guaranteed a job when their extended leave comes to an end. They will also have their health care costs covered for the length of their sabbatical. The offer is targeted at long-term employees of the company who have "personal or professional projects" they wish to undertake during their time off.

Other options open to the bank's 30,000 Spanish employees include a shorter working week on reduced pay, or time off arrangements to allow staff to look after relatives or go back in to education. Now I could really do all three of those options.

Although Spanish banks have escaped the worst of the global downturn because of tight regulation, they have found it difficult to impose redundancies because staff are entitled to large payoffs under domestic labour laws.

Dare this recession to end? In the meantime, it may not be the ideal situation but it definitely has its perks.

Reports in the weekend papers predict that tourism is suffering in Spain because of the fall of the pound against the euro. The recession seems to be taking on a snowball effect in the UK and its expected to negatively impact British tourism by 25%.

Spain expects to see a half a million tourists less this year in the Costa Blanca area alone. Numbers like that have devastating effects of small tourists towns that rely mostly on a regular influx of tourists.

The exchange rate may vary but one constant remains...people still want to go on holiday. The recession has directed a number of prospective holiday makers to seek out cheaper alternatives and tailor make their holidays to perfectly suit their needs, minus the excess costs.

Hotels are hopeful, airlines are dropping their fares to remain competitive but...competition is tight. Tourism Radio focuses on giving self drive tourists the freedom to travel the way they want to and still experience the country as if their was a local sitting in the car with them telling them about the area they're in and about the landmarks and highlights as their car approaches them. It seems to be the most viable option seeing as though the drive from Britain to Spain is easy and accessible.

One thing is certain...the recession will bring about change. Changes in the way people travel, what destinations are deemed popular and what experiences tourists can now afford. The good news is that with Tourism Radio, a change is still as good as a holiday.

Some of the background to the 'rescue' over the weekend of troubled savings bank Caja Castilla la Mancha (CCM) by the Spanish government (I wrote about that here) is now beginning to emerge.It seems thar the Andalusian savings bank, Unicaja, had been in merger talks for some time with CCM, but had pulled out because it was dissatisfied with the guarantees offered by the Banco de España. One is

(Please see UPDATE at end)Spain's banking system seemed to be relatively secure, compared to some (e.g. the UK and the US), but the Spanish government has now had to bail out its first banking institution in recent times, one of the regional savings banks - Caja Castilla la Mancha (CCM) (thru Barcepundit).The Spanish cabinet met today in emergency session to approve Treasury guarantees of upto

According to a recent survey, reported on here, a startling near one third of Europeans blame Jews for the economic slowdown and geater numbers think Jews have too much power in the business world.In Spain, 74 per cent of respondents feel it is 'probably true' that Jews hold too much sway over the global financial markets, the highest in the survey. The survey used a sample size of 3,500, with