The colony houses in the province of Lleida face serious economic uncertainty if the administrations suspend school trips. Business owners warn that this measure could repeat the negative impact experienced during the year 2020, putting the viability of their businesses at risk.
The weight of the educational sector
Jaume Graus, director of the La Manreana farm school in Juneda, confirms that he has lost more than half of the reservations for the next school year. This period between March and June represents seventy percent of his annual turnover, which makes the current situation critical.
"Schools stopped making annual reservations" - Jaume Graus, director of La Manreana
Graus currently manages eighteen employees on payroll and fears for jobs if activity does not normalize. His case reflects the vulnerability of a business model closely linked to the academic calendar.
Concern about the future of work
In La Pobla de Cérvoles, Inda Dalmau, head of Cal Gort, indicates that her fixed expenses do not vary despite the drop in income. After almost fifty years in the sector, she mentions seriously considering the definitive closure of her company.
María Jesús Novau, from Santa Maria de Meià, reports that four schools have canceled the 2027 educational leisure. She warns that she will have to lay off permanent seasonal monitors if the trend of cancellations takes hold, which would directly affect the local staff.
"They are used as a bargaining chip" - Businessmen from the sector
Although they understand the teachers' claims, the owners consider that they are being used politically. This tension jeopardizes the survival of historical infrastructures in the area.
Other events in the province
Meanwhile, tourism begins to arrive in the Lleida Pyrenees for the May 1st long weekend. Showers were recorded in Alta Ribagorça and Val d'Aran during the start of the weekend, with forecasts of precipitation for today and tomorrow.
In Tàrrega, the County Council of Urgell premiered a cycle of guided tours within the Year of Cultural Tourism in Catalonia. About fifty people participated in the route through the capital of Urgell.
The guide Eli Rius explained the historical evolution of the city with old photographs. The tour included the Carmen square, the train station, Santa Ana street, the Palace of the Marquises of La Floresta, and the Mayor and San Antonio squares.
The visit concluded with a tasting of coc, closing the cultural day with successful participation.