Terra Natura, the animal and leisure park, has filed an application to lay off 19 permanent positions from its workforce of a hundred people, due to the financial crisis.

This significant reduction in the workforce is directly linked to the economic crisis and the slowdown of tourism, although the company still remains optimistic.

The news was known by the trade union representatives for several weeks, but did not materialize until last Friday, as confirmed by sources at Terra Natura.

The CEO of Terra Natura and Terra Natura Benidorm and Murcia, Francisco J Pérez-Rodenas, ensures that the complex “is still committed to improving the product offered with the full support of all shareholders.”

The park opened in the early summer of 2004. A few months earlier, in spring, offering one of the largest work opportunities in the Alicante area in the last decade. Terra Natura offered 400 direct jobs (veterinarians, biologists, technical operations, commercial, tellers, salesmen and waiters …) and 170 permanent contracts.

Terra Natura has opened a consultation period with unions, as is mandatory.

The 2008 financial year closed with 350,000 visits to the animal complex and other 150,000 visitors in the Aqua Natura water park.