Brava/Businesses: Economic and tourist operators and the population differ in their opinions on the “evaluation” of the movement during the festive season

Brava's tour and economic operators present different “balance sheets” this festive season, based on the offer and availability of each of these sectors to the public.

On the eve of Christmas, Inforpress made a round, with the aim of finding out about the preparation of the Christmas festivities, as well as the offers that the market made available to customers and reservations in hotel developments.

However, the Inforpress Agency found divergent opinions both from consumers, as well as from merchants and managers or responsible for hotel or residential units on the island.

In the commercial sector, Daniel Tavares, managing partner of one of the mini-markets on the island, reported that “sales are proceeding as normal, with a huge flow of customers”, adding that it is a demand that his mini-market always counts on.

Therefore, he informed that they always try to supply and have a stock capable of responding to the number of requests from customers.

Compared to the previous year, he considered that 2019 “has a higher sales volume”, justified by the “diversity of products that he made available to customers”.

Another trader, António Pina, says it doesn't have that much traffic, with the hope of seeing some improvement as the days go by.

With regard to the diversity of products, he added that it is “a little complicated”, as he stressed that on the island people are not very in the habit of buying gifts, but even so, he stressed that there are some options available for all ages.

However, he informed that he is facing some difficulties, mainly a “chronic” one, in terms of transport, which does not allow the arrival of products on time on the island.

Other merchants, with smaller investments, also complained about the “weak movement”, adding that, because they have no way of diversifying their offers, they have remained with regular customers, but that even these feel the need to seek out other novelties for this festive season.

Saleswomen in the municipal market say they are waiting for “better and greater movement”, since, as they highlighted, the flow of sales is still “much lower”, compared to the previous year.

In some boutiques, the owners and employees say they are “satisfied” with the movement and flow of sales, regretting, however, the fact that their goods, which were about to come from the United States of America, were left behind.

With regard to hotel, boarding house, guest house and restaurant units, only one unit said it was fully booked until the 31st. The rest, such as Pensão Paulo, Brava Tour, among many other units on the island, stated that even have no reservations.

The population also differs in opinion. Some are satisfied with the offers found in commercial houses, although complaining about the prices and another thinks that there should be more product diversity.

Also, Inforpress found that, unlike the other islands, where in squares or in more public places people can be found selling toys, postcards, bears, among other options, on Brava Island there are not many options, leaving the population to purchase the products in “traditional stores”, where you don't always find “trinkets” on occasion.

MC/JMV

Inforpress/end