Lloret del Mar is already preparing for the return of tourism
Spain, heavily dependent on tourism and, like any other place in the world, wishing to return to normality, is already working on the set-up of what is probably the strangest summer in its recent history. The new hotel protocol has already been established, we know the airline routines of the future and, now, also the way in which the coastal destination of Lloret de Mar intends to deal with visitors after confinement.
To this end, the City Council, together with the business associations and organizations linked to tourism in the city, has presented a four-phase comprehensive plan whose objective is to create the safest environment possible, " fully prepared to receive visitors during the tourist season this summer, and leaving no room for improvisation", in the words of its mayor, Jaume Dulsat.
"We are working to advance as much work as possible before the standards of the Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality (ICTE) are made public and, in this way, we already hope have almost all the measures ready that will be required by the State from establishments and destinations to be able to open ", he also explained.
DIVIDED BEACHES
The Comprehensive Plan for Lloret de Mar consists of four stages: the preparation stage, in which telematic meetings were held between the agents involved in the sector related to the city's travel industry, began on March 14. The second, dedicated to the " general formations ", began on May 8, and during it, all the workers of the municipality involved in tourist activities will assimilate the risk prevention protocols linked to Covid-19.
Cala Sa Boadella, one of the most beautiful beaches in Lloret de Mar
The " sectoral formations ", for its part, will begin on May 13, and will differentiate in its content between hotels and tourist accommodation; bars, cafes and nightlife; restaurants and campsites and commerce.
Lastly, phase four, which consists of the implementation of action measures and protocols -the implementation of which is still pending ratification by the ICTE-, contemplates measures such as divide the beaches of Lloret and Fenals , the busiest, by sectors, according to the type of visitors: older people; family groups with children and adults without children (couples and groups of friends).
In addition, the sandbanks will have capacity limitation and an access control will be carried out to access them, a task that will be taken care of until 35 professionals , also in charge of ensuring that physical distancing is respected both in the sand and in the bathing area. Showers and public services will only open if the absence of risk of contagion can be guaranteed.
On public roads, the municipality has been using since the beginning of the health crisis surveillance drones to detect breaches, something it will continue to do. In addition, from the City Council they affirm that cleaning and disinfection services on public roads and urban furniture, as well as collections, will be considerably reinforced to prevent the presence of waste on public roads.
Likewise, there will be information points where visitors will be guided on where to buy masks and gloves , and informative brochures will be provided informing about the safety instructions to follow.
For hotels, accommodation for tourist use, restaurants, bars and terraces, as well as for commercial establishments, the measures coincide with those suggested by the State. In the area of daytime leisure, the disinfection of tools (quads, bicycles, miniature golf, etc) between clients, as well as reinforced cleaning measures in common areas.
Finally, in the field of nightlife, the City Council highlights the work of Tropics, the first nightclub in Spain to obtain the Sanitized Venue distinction of the International Nightlife Association, which certifies the preparation of an establishment to prevent the spread of Covid-19. "According to the conditions of this seal, the establishment undertakes to nebulize the premises with a chemical solution and have ice dispensers. Workers must have PPE and the temperature of customers will be taken before entering," they explain from the Council.