Ana Juan, Alejandra Ferrer and Carlos Bernús -president, vice-president/tourism councillor and chief of tourism marketing, respectively- are currently representing Formentera at Fitur International Tourism Fair in Madrid.

President Juan said that Formentera is presented at the expo as an "established" destination and that the island's marketing team is "hard at work promoting the quiet and respectful brand of tourism that we want." For that reason, expo attendees see an island where sunshine and beaches "fit snugly with our natural treasures, and offer of heritage, culture, fine dining and sport." Juan also cautiously highlighted "rosy 2023 forecasts for domestic tourism", which she described as "a leading market for Formentera."

Presentation
Today at the Balearic Islands stand, Vice President Ferrer and Mr Bernús presented Formentera to the press and specialised public. Ferrer rehashed memories of early tourism on the island, which has delivered quality of life improvements for residents at the same time it has thrown up many challenges, such as preservation and safeguarding the island's tranquillity. "This process has meant that the island now has a unique, familiar, simple and friendly identity where its hosts, the people of Formentera, want to welcome our guests, because they enjoy its uniqueness while taking care of it." In that connection, the crowd was shown a video titled "Formentera, an island to take care of".

Marketing activities at the expo will include meetings with specialised data and booking web portals, magazines, travel agents, tour operators and more. "We want to reinforce marketing to the travellers who, since 2022, have become the island's main market", said Ferrer, "the aim being to draw domestic tourists in the pre- and post-season or directly in the low season, since our proximity makes travel easier for these visitors."

'Blue Islands, blue and circular islands'
After the presentation, President Juan participated in another event, 'Blue and Circular Islands', together with representatives from other Spanish and Mediterranean islands. Juan joined the round table 'Women leading the change' and spoke of the "effects of triple insularity on an island facing a wintertime lack of connectivity, an issue that is finally being attended to", and "the overabundance of boats on our coastline, one of the most crowded in the Mediterranean." Juan insisted on the need to set limits, and cited examples of work being done by the administrations like controls on anchoring in the natural reserve, regulating incoming vehicles on the island and the pioneering scheme to regulate and safeguard Estany des Peix. "We strive to achieve a balance between tourism and our residents' quality of life", she added.

This year, the Balearic Islands stand is inspired by posidonia seagrass and Formentera has a specific section with various promotional material on options for tourists, particularly families outside the high season.

In pre-pandemic 2019, domestic travellers made up 29% of Formentera's visitors, second only to visitors from Italy (37.2%). In 2021 and 2022, domestic travel spiked, accounting for 50.68% and 75.56%, respectively, of Formentera's total, growth that was driven by the pandemic. Last year, Spanish tourists continued to outnumber their Italian counterparts, representing 39.28% and 28.01%, respectively, of the island's visitors.

19 January 2023
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Office of Tourism of the Consell de Formentera is pleased to report that from 18 to 22 January, the Fitur International Tourism Fair will take place at Ifema fairgrounds in Madrid. There, at the Balearic Islands' new, posidonia-inspired stand, visitors will find a dedicated space for promotional material on Formentera and a special focus on all the activities and possibilities the island offers its low-season visitors.

Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera, will attend the fair with Alejandra Ferrer, vice president and tourism councillor, and Carlos Bernús, chief of marketing. Bernús will take advantage of the opportunity to sit down with representatives of niche press outlets, tour operators and travel agents.

"Fitur is one of the main national expos, and in the last three years the domestic market has become a priority on our island", said Vice President Ferrer. "As usual, we will tout the island's sustainability in terms of the environment and tourism, but we will also be talking about social, economic and cultural sustainability and circularity. We will encourage visitors to come enjoy what makes our island unique while helping us to continue preserving it", she said.

Domestic market
In pre-pandemic 2019, domestic travellers made up 29% of Formentera's visitors, second only to visitors from Italy (37.2%). In 2021 and 2022, domestic travel spiked, accounting for 50.68% and 75.56%, respectively, of Formentera's total, growth that was driven by the pandemic. Last year, Spanish tourists continued to outnumber their Italian counterparts, representing 39.28% and 28.01%, respectively, of the island's visitors.

By autonomous region, the island's domestic visitors came from Catalunya (33.47%), València (17%), Madrid (16%), Illes Balears (11%) and Andalucía (8%). Domestic visitors are characteristically familiar with Formentera thanks to family or friends, and make their bookings more than three months in advance. According to the Formentera Data Observatory tourist barometer, beaches, scenery and contact with nature are the three aspects that these visitors cite most often among their reasons for coming, and the three aspects they rank the highest.

Agenda
From 11.00am, Thursday 19 January, at a presentation of the Balearic Islands involving niche media outlets and the general public, Vice President Ferrer will point up the new features that Formentera's visitors can expect to find. Later, at 1.00pm, President Juan will participate in the presentation "Blue and Circular Islands" (Islas Azules y circulares). Open days on Saturday and Sunday (21 and 22 January) will give the public a chance to get to know the various destinations directly.

16 January 2023
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Office of Tourism of the Consell de Formentera is pleased to report that with the arrival of January comes the start of various activities geared toward professionals and the direct public to attract pre- and post-season visitors in 2023.

From 10 to 19 January, a sales mission will be carried out in the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego and La Joya on the West Coast of the United States. A spokesperson for Formentera will meet with individuals from roughly 30 travel agencies to show the American public the activities and experiences in fine dining, culture, heritage, sports available on the island.

From 12 to 15 January, the Consell de Formentera will take part in Vakantiebeurs, a travel expo in Utrecht (Netherlands). The island will feature prominently at the Tourespaña stand, where a representative will illuminate Formentera's low-season appeal.

Next week, Formentera will also be at the Fitur International Tourism Fair (Madrid). There, according to Alejandra Ferrer, vice president and tourism councillor, "Spanish travellers can learn about Formentera's credentials as a destination that is environmentally, socially, economically and culturally sustainable."

From 20 to 23 January, local representatives will attend an international tourism fair in Nantes to raise the island's profile in areas of France with good air connections to Eivissa. From 20 to 22 January, Formentera will seek to attract Nordic travellers at the Matka fair in Helsinki, where the island's spokespeople will be at the Tourespaña stand.

Finally, from 23 to 25 January, representatives of four local restaurants will be present at the Madrid Fusión 2023 fair.

13 January 2023
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Today the Consell de Formentera and Pimef delivered the gift card that was raffled as part of "At Christmas, Buy Local" (Al Nadal, Compra a Casa). Ana Juan, president and commerce councillor of the Consell, presented the lucky winner, Gemma Pradas Ferrer, with a €500 gift card in the presence of Lidia Alvarez, Pimef manager.

Gemma Pradas has had the "Compra a Casa" card since 2018 and made her winning purchase at Muebles Carlos. She said that the prize money will come in handy for purchases she would like to make for her new home.

During the past year, "Compra a Casa" cards were used to make purchases of roughly €1.5 million in local stores. There are currently 3,118 card-holding islanders and 36 member businesses.

12 January 2023
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera