World Of Tourism

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

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.

Unemployment in Spain continued to rise during March 2009 and although the rate of increase has slowed somewhat, the rise that did take place took the number of registered unemployed over 3.6mio to 3,605,402 representing a rise of 3.5 per cent on the number registered unemployed a month earlier. Although national unemployment rates are only issued on a quarterly basis, it is estimated by Eurostat

Unemployment in Spain rose almost 140,000 in December, the ninth consecutive month it has risen, and breached three million for the first time in over 12 years. According to Eurostat figures, Spain's unemployment was already 13.4 per cent in November (the highest in the Eurozone) before the further rise in unemployment in December, against a Eurozone average of 7.8 per cent for