Safety around Puerto de la Duquesa is back in the news after a customer was assaulted on Friday morning in the middle of the restaurant area. According to local business owners, the incident is not an isolated one but a reflection of a situation that has been deteriorating for some time without effective solutions being put in place.
In a statement sent to this outlet, a businessman from the port, speaking on behalf of the concern shared by numerous professionals, warns of a growing climate of insecurity that directly affects economic activity and the image of this tourist destination.
According to the statement, in recent months there have been incidents of threats, intimidation and illegal activity “in plain sight”, witnessed by residents, workers and visitors alike. They say this is a reality that cannot be treated as normal in a place that is one of the main tourist attractions of the municipality of Manilva.
“Puerto de la Duquesa cannot afford this situation”, they stress, recalling that the daily efforts of the business community to offer quality, trust and a safe experience are seriously undermined if minimum safety conditions are not guaranteed.
In this regard, the business owners are calling on the relevant authorities for an “immediate and forceful” response, including a visible increase in the police presence, firm action against repeated illegal activity and the introduction of effective measures to protect customers, workers and residents alike.
Far from wishing to cause alarm, the statement insists on the need to act responsibly to protect the image of the destination. “Defending safety does not damage the image, it protects it”, they state, emphasising that the tourism and economic potential of Puerto de la Duquesa must necessarily go hand in hand with a safe and controlled environment.
In the meantime, the business sector will continue its commitment to the development of the area, although it warns that it needs guarantees in order to keep backing and investing in one of the key hubs of the western Costa del Sol.
While awaiting a response from the authorities, concern continues to grow among those who, day after day, keep commercial activity going in Puerto de la Duquesa.
