Calvià launches voucher campaign Calvià lo Vale for residents

Calvià launches voucher campaign Calvià lo Vale for residents

Today the winter campaign "Calvià lo Vale" begins in Calvià, aimed at boosting the local retail sector. Residents of Calvià who are at least 16 years old can take advantage of several small savings until January 31: for purchases of at least €20, up to four €10 vouchers can be redeemed, provided the ID card is shown at payment. A total of 25,000 vouchers are available, financed from a municipal budget of €250,000.

On the streets you quickly notice what it is about. In the mornings residents stroll through the shops on the Plaça de la Vila in Peguera or through the narrow lanes of Calvià village, bags in hand, the scent of freshly baked bread blending with the smell of coffee. Small boutique owners, bakers, hairdressers and family businesses are hoping in these weeks for customers who shop locally instead of online. That is precisely the aim of the campaign: to bring more footfall into the shops, return money to the local economy and reward short trips for shopping.

Mayor Juan Antonio Amengual expects a strong boost to turnover and estimates about half a million euros in trade turnover thanks to the campaign. The calculation is simple: freely distributed vouchers increase residents' purchasing power and are intended to encourage additional purchases. For retailers this often means not only a one-off sale but also the chance to win new regular customers.

Practically, this means: whether you buy a breakfast roll, pick up a piece of sobrasada at the butcher or get a household product at the pharmacy, you can have the voucher applied at participating businesses under the campaign conditions. It is important that participation by each business is voluntary and that the list of participating providers is published on the municipality's information page. When paying, you should therefore have the document proving your residence with you.

For many traders the measure is a welcome push after the tourist high season. In places such as Magaluf, Palmanova or Santa Ponça the street scene is calmer in winter, suppliers make fewer deliveries, but the regular clientele remains important. A single €10 voucher may seem small, but in total it can provide noticeable relief for shop owners — especially if the campaign leads customers to spend more than the voucher amount.

There are simple tips for residents to make sensible use of the offer: check in advance which shops are participating; combine purchases so the minimum of €20 is reached; have your ID ready at payment to avoid unpleasant surprises at the checkout. Those who wish can also help neighbors or elderly people with errands and thus benefit together from the vouchers.

The mood in the villages is a mixture of optimism and pragmatic common sense. At the weekly market it smells of oranges and almonds, vendors clap frost out of their jackets with gloved hands as they set up their stalls, and you can hear the soft rattling of wheeled suitcases belonging to the few winter guests. These small scenes show: Calvià is not a single postcard, but everyday life in which such measures can have a direct effect.

The campaign is not a cure-all, but it sends a signal: shopping locally matters. It is an example of how municipal policy attempts in small, tangible steps to balance tourism and everyday life. Those who use the campaign not only support a local business but also a piece of communal life in the streets of Calvià.

Outlook: The vouchers run until the end of January and are intended to enliven the winter months. If the campaign meets expectations, the model could be repeated in similar form in coming years or expanded in other ways. For retailers it remains important to present clear prices and visible information about participation so that visits are straightforward for customers. Residents are invited to wander their neighborhoods again — with a voucher and a spirit of discovery.