The Christmas market at the Parc de la Mar remains pending the technical review by the City Council

PalmaAfedeco and Pimeco have responded to the information published by ARA Balears regarding the deficiencies presented by the Christmas market project planned, this year, in the Parc de la Mar, the first time the project was registered. The two associations, which coordinate the initiative, assure that the Palma City Council has not denied the permit and that those responsible for the promoting company, Parc Màgic de Nadal SL, have already submitted the necessary documentation to amend the technical observations raised by the municipal services and that it is now pending a new assessment.

In a document regarding the information published about the project, business organizations explain that municipal observations are part of the review prior to the authorization of the activity. The employers' associations point out that it is up to the City Council's technicians to verify whether the submitted documentation adequately resolves the issues raised. At the same time, they assert that they do not intend to downplay the importance of municipal requirements, especially those related to safety, nor to anticipate the result of the review.

AFEDECO and PIMECO compare this process with that of other activities, such as the attractions of the 'Palma, a whole center of fun' initiative, which, as they indicate, also receive technical requirements that they must respond to before they can operate. The entities maintain that this is a standard procedure in the preparation of activities of this nature.

Revitalize the commerce of the center

Beyond administrative processing, employers' associations claim the commercial purpose of the Christmas market. "The goal is to attract visitors from other neighborhoods of Palma and from municipalities of Mallorca so that they come to the city center, visit the market, and take advantage of their stay to shop at local businesses, enjoy the dining options, and participate in the cultural offerings," they said.

In the medium term, AFEDECO and PIMECO aspire to consolidate the market as a tourist attraction during the winter months, with the desire to contribute to "deseasonalization" and generate new opportunities for establishments in the center. The organizations assert that they have been promoting initiatives to boost commerce in Palma for decades and argue that the Christmas market can help distribute the influx of visitors among the various establishments in the area.

However, the trade representative associations have emphasized that the project continues its "usual process" and that, in any case, the final resolution remains in the hands of the municipal technical services, which will have to determine if the amendments provided are sufficient for the project to obtain the necessary authorizations.