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Doing business & staying in touch

Business people are generally expected to dress smartly. English is widely spoken in the principal cities and resorts but far less so in the provinces. Some knowledge of the Spanish language is always appreciated and sometimes essential. Punctuality is important though attitudes to such things as responding to e-mails, letters and phone calls can be surprisingly casual.

Office hours: 

Tend to vary considerably but base hours of 0900-1330 and 1700-1900 are fairly typical.

Economy: 

The tourism sector is by far the biggest industry on Ibiza and the surrounding Balearic Islands, making up 72% of its GDP. New hotel, residential and other developments suggest the island has reconsidered its appeal and is opting instead for quality rather than quantity with an increase in the number of chic and expensive hotels opening their doors to the moneyed demographic. However, the CAEB (Confederació d'Associacions Empressarials de Balears), the islands largest business association, unfortunately predicts hard times ahead, with minimal or no growth over the next couple of years with potential tourists instead opting for cheaper destinations outside the Eurozone or simply holidaying at home.

GDP: 

US$1.1 trillion (Spain) (2006).

Main exports: 

Machinery, motor vehicles, food, pharmaceuticals and medicines.

Main imports: 

Machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semi-finished goods and food.

Main trading partners: 

France, Germany, Italy, UK and Portugal.

Telephone: 

Emergency calls: 112. Area codes are incorporated within a nine digit number.

Mobile phone: 

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good throughout most of the towns though service in mountainous areas can sometimes be patchy.

Internet: 

There is a variety of Internet cafes in most urban areas.

Post: 

There are efficient internal and international postal services (correos) to all countries. Airmail within Europe usually takes around five days.

Media: 

Broadcasting in Spain has witnessed a spectacular expansion in recent years with the emergence of new commercial operators and the launch of digital services.

Press: 

• The Ibiza Sun is a free weekly English newspaper.
• Ulitima Hora Ibiza is a daily local newspaper in Spanish.
• El País is a liberal Spanish-language daily.
• El Mundo is a popular Spanish-language daily.
• ABC is a political right-of-centre Spanish-language daily.

Television: 

• State-owned TVE operates TV-1 (La Primera) and TV-2 (La Dos).
• Antena 3, La Cuatro, Telecinco and La Sexta are privately run channels.
• Cadena SER and Onda Cero are popular commercial stations.
• Cadena COPE is controlled by the church.

Radio: 

• Radio RNE is state-run. It operates Radio 1, Radio Clasica, Radio 3 and Radio 5.
• Sunshine Radio is a seasonal English-speaking radio station.

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