We all know that the fight to protect the world from the worst effects of the Coronavirus pandemic will take a notable economic toll across the globe, but rather than wait for the moment when the lockdown restrictions are lifted and we face the task of picking up where we left off, the Marbella town hall is developing a plan of action designed to reinvigorate the local economy and community as soon as possible.
The lockdown has caused some businesses to close their doors, and while many companies and professionals continue to work from home, the region’s shops, cafés, restaurants, hotels, health and beauty centres, sports facilities and many others are badly affected. A lot of such businesses have proven highly flexible and continue to keep running thanks to innovative thinking, but one can’t deny that many will emerge from the lockdown with severe challenges to face.
The extent depends on the length of the lockdown, and the latest trends regarding the new Covid-19 cases and fatalities are encouraging in that the virus’s spread appears to be slowing down and we may have passed through the worst of the crisis. If the situation continues to improve, lockdown will stay in place but restrictions gradually reduced until we hopefully return to some form of normality during the early summer.
The Spanish authorities were quick to react and contain the further spread of the Coronavirus, and if the measures taken prove to be effective many are hoping businesses will be able to open up again, even if in some restricted form. We all know that 2020 won’t have a normal summer season, but it is vital that the tourist sector is allowed to open for the holiday season to some degree, and this will depend on the level of movement possible come the summer.
The authorities expect a reduction in the number of international visitors, not from a lack of interest but due to travel limitations, and so are creating contingency plans that focus on promoting national and regional tourism for the interim. After the main fight against Covid-19 is won, the next phase will be on reactivating the economy both here and abroad, until we have reached a point of normality again, and can travel, work, consume and vacation as before.
To help this process along and minimise the damage to the local economy and its speediest recovery, the Marbella town hall has created a plan of action centred upon 25 key steps that is called the Plan Reinicia – the Restart Plan. A sum of €130 million will be invested as part of its implementation, and the hard-felt message behind it is that: Soon we will be back together!
Here is a summary of the main elements:
At the time of writing, Estepona and Benahavis townhalls were yet to issue information regarding similar initiatives.
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