SPANISH GOVERNMENT officials have played down the impact of recent strikes by their country's truckers on tourism, saying Irish travellers to Spain will not suffer major difficulties because of the dispute.
Hauliers in Spain have been protesting this week over the increasing cost of fuel, which they say has risen in price by 36 per cent in the past year.
The protests have seen some filling stations running dry and a number of supermarkets unable to restock shelves as thousands of self-employed drivers took action.
However, the Spanish Tourist Office, an arm of the Spanish Department of Tourism based in Dublin, said the strikes have not impacted on individuals travelling to the country, and food shortages were not widespread or as serious as some reports suggested.
A spokeswoman for the office said services were "returning to normal after illegal pickets which had been set up outside the main food distribution markets in the major cities were dispersed".
"Although some truckers are still on strike, service has been restored to petrol stations, supermarkets and restaurants, and food supplies are expected to be back to normal shortly."
Spain is Ireland's second largest tourist market, and Irish people made 6.7million visits to the country last year.
One of Ireland's largest tour operators to Spain, Budget Travel, said its customers had not been affected or become concerned by the events in the country.
"We have been in regular contact with our representatives in Spanish resorts and they have not been experiencing any major problems," said Clem Walsh of Budget Travel.
"There have been some changes to menus in restaurants and some items are not available in some areas, but we have not seen any evidence that the problems are as serious as they have been depicted in some places." The Spanish government signed an agreement on Wednesday night with non-striking unions who represent the vast majority of Spain's truckers.
The agreement calls for tax relief and other measures to cushion the effects of higher fuel prices.
The strikers, who are mainly self-employed drivers and account for less than 20 per cent of Spain's drivers, have refused to sign the document.
The striking drivers are demanding a minimum, guaranteed rate for their services. The socialist government has refused this, saying it would interfere with free-market competition.
