– CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – File
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 5 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Concerns Over Holiday Declaration
The Director of the Chamber of Commerce of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lola Pérez, expressed on Friday that declaring June 12, the day earmarked for Pope Leon XIV’s visit to the island, as a public holiday lacks rationale. This is due to potential disruptions to private sector operations stemming from anticipated mobility restrictions.
“Declaring a festive day doesn’t make much sense. Moreover, it presents an economic opportunity for the island, with many businesses likely to benefit from increased sales as a significant number of visitors will be present. We must provide first-rate services,” she stated in response to journalists’ questions during the presentation of the Economic Outlook Bulletin for the first quarter of 2026 at the Cabildo of Tenerife.
Seeking Balance
Pérez also urged the need to find “balance” and to encourage the private sector to promote “all possible facilities” depending on the location. “If it’s clear that workers will have difficulty reaching their workplaces, we will need to find solutions, such as, for example, making substitutions among colleagues,” she added.
Combining remote and on-site work while offering flexibility to those companies unable to implement teleworking would, in her view, be the “most efficient” approach for June 12.
Chamber’s Commitment
Meanwhile, the Chamber’s President, Santiago Sesé, emphasised the “facilities” the Chamber is providing to facilitate teleworking on June 12. He also voiced the initial “concerns” of the Tenerife business community regarding the difficulties anticipated during this historic visit.
“There was some concern about how workers could reach their workplaces without issues, not because businesses are unwilling to offer teleworking, but because we must also provide services,” Sesé indicated. Furthermore, he reported ongoing discussions with island authorities to “adjust the schedules as much as possible” to give workers sufficient time to arrive punctually.
