IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL Business Customs There is no substitute for face-to-face meetings with Spanish business representatives to break into this market. Spaniards are not mail order shoppers; they expect a personal relationship with suppliers. Initial communication by phone or fax is far less effective than personal meetings. Mail campaigns generally yield meager results. Less than thirty percent of local managers are fluent in English. Spaniards are more formal in personal relations than Americans but much less rigid than they were ten years ago. The biggest mistake a U.S. business person can make is to assume that doing business in Spain is comparable to business practices in Mexico and Latin America; Italy or France would be better comparisons. Spaniards tend to be "conservative" in their buying habits. Known brands do well. Large government and private sector buyers appear more comfortable dealing with other large, established organizations or with firms that are recognized as leaders within their sectors. Travel Advisory and Visas Spain is a developed and stable democracy with a modern economy. Tourist facilities are widely available. Entry requirements: a passport is necessary but a visa is not required for tourist or commercial stays of up to three months; visitors may subsequently apply for an extension of stay at a Spanish immigration office. Holders of official or diplomatic passports need a visa. For further information concerning entry requirements for Spain, travellers may contact the Embassy of Spain at 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037, tel: (202) 728-2330, or the nearest Spanish consulate in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, or San Juan. Medical facilities: good medical care is available. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved to be useful. Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Cnters for Disease Control's international travelers hotline on (404) 332-4559. Crime information: Spain has a very low rate of violent crime. Nevertheless, minor crimes such as pickpocketing, robbery, and theft from cars are a problem and are often directed against unwary tourists. Thieves often attempt to distract their victims by squirting mustard on their clothing, asking for directions on the street, or otherwise diverting attention from an accomplice. Theft of small items like radios, luggage, cameras, briefcases, and even cigarettes from parked cars is a common problem. This Embassy has issued a notice to U.S. citizens stating that it frequently receives reports of roadside thieves posing as "good samaritans" to persons experiencing car and tire problems. The thieves typically attempt to divert the driver's attention by pointing out a mechanical problem and then steal items from the vehicle while the driver is looking elsewhere. The problem is particularly acute with vehicles rented at Madrid's Barajas Airport. The Embassy notice advises drivers to be extremely cautious about accepting help from anyone other than a uniformed Spanish police officer or civil guard. Travelers who accept unofficial assistance are advised to protect their valuables by keeping them in sight or locking them in the vehicle. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlet "A safe trip abroad" for ways to promote a more trouble- free journey. It is available from the Superintendent of documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20402. Drug penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. In Spain, penalties for possession, use, or dealing in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Terrorist activities: civil disorder in Spain is rare. Although a few small terrorist groups, including ETA (Basque separatists) and GRAPO (a marxist group) are occasionally active, their efforts are primarily directed against police, military and other Spanish Government targets. Americans have not been targets of these attacks. Registration: U.S. citizens who register in the consular section at the U.S. Embassy or consulate may obtain updated information on travel and security within Spain. Embassy and consulate locations: The U.S. Embassy in Madrid is located at Serrano 75 from 9:00am to 6:00pm; telephone (34-1) 577-4000. There are U.S. consulates in Barcelona, at Paseo Reina Elisenda 23, telephone (34-3) 280-2227; and in Bilbao, at Lehendakari Aguirre 11, telephone (34-4) 475-8300 both open from 9:00am to 6:00pm. There are also consular agencies in the following locations: - Malaga, at Centro Comercial "Las Rampas" Fase 2, Planta 1, locales 12-G-7 and 12-G-8, Fuengirola, telephone (34-52) 474-891, hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; - La Coru a, at Canton Grande 16-17, telephone (34-81) 213-233, hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; - Las Palmas, at Franchy y Roca 5-5, no. 13, telephone (34-28) 222-552, hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; - Palma de Mallorca, at Av. Jaime 111, 26 entresuelo, telephone (34-71) 725-051, hours 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; - Seville, at Paseo de las Delicias 7, telephone (34-54) 231-885, hours 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Valencia, at Cl. de la Paz 6-5, local 5, telephone (34-6) 351- 6973, hours 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Holidays The government of Spain publishes the list holidays every year. The list for 1995 is not available yet. In any case, it will not differ much from the following list; 1994's. National Holidays Jan. 1 (New year's); Jan. 6 (Epiphany); Apr. 1 (Good friday); Aug. 15 (Assumption day);Oct. 12 (National day); Nov. 1 (All saints); Dec. 6 (Constitution day); Dec. 8 (Immaculate conception). Regional holidays Mar. 31 (Holy thursday) Bilbao/Madrid; Apr. 4 (Easter monday) Barcelona/Bilbao; May 2 (labor day) Madrid; May 16 (St. Isidro) Madrid; May 23 (Whit monday) Barcelona; June 24 (St. John) Barcelona; Jul. 25 (St. James) Bilbao/Madrid; Sept. 24 (La Merced) Barcelona; Nov. 9 (Our Lady of Almudena) Madrid; dec. 26 Barcelona/Madrid. Business Infrastructure - Electricity: 46,600,000 kW capacity; 157,000 million kWh produced, 4,000 kWh per capita (1992) - Railroads: 15,430 km total; Spanish National Railways (RENFE) operates 12,691 km (all 1.668-meter gauge, 6,184 km electrified, and 2,295 km double track); FEVE (government-owned narrow-gauge railways) operates 1,821 km (predominantly 1.000-meter gauge, 441 km electrified); privately owned railways operate 918 km (predominantly 1.000-meter gauge, 512 km electrified, and 56 km double track). - Highways: 150,839 km total; 82,513 km national (includes 2,433 km limited-access divided highway, 63,042 km bituminous treated, 17,038 km intermediate bituminous, concrete, or stone block) and 68,326 km provincial or local roads (bituminous treated, intermediate bituminous, or stone block). - Inland waterways: 1,045 km, but of minor economic importance - Pipelines: crude oil 265 km, petroleum products 1,794 km, natural gas 1,666 km. - Ports: Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, El Ferrol del Caudillo, Puerto de Gijon, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Mahon, Malaga, Melilla, Rota, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Sagunto, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo, and 175 minor ports. - Merchant marine: 242 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,394,175 GRT/4,262,868 DWT; includes 2 passenger, 8 short-sea passenger, 71 cargo, 12 refrigerated cargo, 12 container, 32 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 vehicle carrier, 41 oil tanker, 14 chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 3 specialized tanker, 36 bulk. - Airports: total: 105 usable: 99 with permanent-surface runways: 60 with runways over 3,659 m: 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 26 - Telecommunications: generally adequate, modern facilities; 15,350,464 telephones; broadcast stations - 190 AM, 406 (134 repeaters) FM, 100 (1,297 repeaters) TV; 22 coaxial submarine cables; 2 communications satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean); MARECS, INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems; 1 satellite HISPASAT, tropospheric links.