"Our strongest claim is that when sanitary conditions are met, we can reopen our establishments, and that this is done as soon as possible", explained Cristina Sellés, president of AEHTMA, the Association of Hospitality Entrepreneurs of the Marina Alta. The Secretary of State for Tourism is drafting the protocols and procedures that will have to be carried out for the reopening, applicable to all of Spain. These protocols will be agreed by employers, unions, the Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, the Autonomous Communities and the Ministry of Health, and it is expected that they will be ready in about 20 days. "Until this is finished, we have recommended to our associates that they do not make any expenses" (in adaptation of premises, protection material or any other material), Sellés indicates.
"Our priority is to reopen as soon as possible, with all the security and with the support of local and regional administrations. We are convinced that we can do very well. If things work, we could get the summer ahead. Being positive, the summer is getting longer If people are leaving little by little, it may be that national tourism comes later. The absolutely positive fact is that We do not have a cancellation in hotels or tourist accommodation for the summer"says the president of the hoteliers of the Marina Alta, Cristina Sellés.
José Manuel Piña, president of the Association of Restaurateurs of Xàbia (ARX) explains that they feel a lot of uncertainty, they need to know what will be the reduction in capacity or what will be the social distance that must be maintained between people. While the concrete measures are known, it sends a very positive message: "According to international tourism data, the European country with the most flight reservations at the beginning of the year is Spain."
