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Doing business & staying in touch

Businesspeople are generally expected to dress smartly. English is widely spoken in Palma and the resorts but less so elsewhere. Some knowledge of the Spanish language (and perhaps Catalan/Menorquin too) is always appreciated and sometimes essential. Punctuality is important. 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 1700-1800 are fairly typical.

Economy: 

The island relies heavily on tourism with most of its visitors coming from the UK and Germany. The majority of the population work in tourism. Its ancillary businesses are construction plus the buying and selling of homes, properties and established businesses such as restaurants, bars, hotels and shops. Farmers account for much of what remains. Mahón and Ciutadella are the commercial hubs of the island.

The nearest large-scale convention and conference facilities are on neighbouring Mallorca.

GDP: 

US$1.6 trillion (Spain) (2008).

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 country.

Internet: 

There are Internet cafes in Mahón, Ciutadella and the larger resorts.

Post: 

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

Post office hours: 

Post Office opening hours are usually Monday to Friday 8am to noon and 5pm to 7.30pm.

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: 

• Diari de Balears is a Catalan-language newspaper based in Palma de Mallorca.
• Diario de Mallorca is the main Spanish-language daily newspaper.
• Majorca Daily Bulletin is Spain's oldest English-language daily newspaper.

Television: 

• La Radiotelevisió de les Illes Balears is the principal local broadcaster.
• There are dozens of foreign-language satellite channels.

Radio: 

• There are several radio stations in Spanish and English throughout the islands.

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