Council unveils 'Formentera, a safe place to travel' pamphlets

foto-destinacio---segura prems1Today at 12 noon in the CiF Sala d'Actes, a team of individuals including the head of the CiF president's office and the councillor of tourism (Bartomeu Escandell and Alejandra Ferrer, respectively) as well as local police chief Félix Ramos and Enrique Gómez Bastida, the Guardia Civil's commander in the Pityuses, met before members of the press to unveil “Formentera, destinació segura” (Formentera, a safe place to travel).

President Ferrer said the outreach initiative's associated pamphlet covers the safety essentials for visiting tourists, not to mention smartphone apps to report a crime (AlertCops), online tools to file incident reports (“e-denuncies”) and important phone numbers and basic tips.

The brochure is being published in Castilian Spanish, Catalan and English, and is available online in the Useful information section of the island's portal for tourists: https://www.formentera.es/en/planning/useful-information/

Interpreting in 50 languages
The CiF tourism office has contracted Dualia, a service that provides interpreting in more than 50 languages. Said Ferrer: “One phone call is all it takes to obtain assistance in over 50 languages—24 hours a day, 365 days a year”.

The civil guard, local police, lifeguard and rescue services, tourist info spots and CiF emergency social work staff plan to use the system as well. Ferrer described Dualia as a way to “avoid slip-ups in translation, improve services for visitors and islanders who are still learning our language, and minimise incidents that stem from cultural differences”.

Those at the press conference pointed out that tourists will also need to sign up on the Guardia Civil's registry of overnight lodgers as an additional measure to improve local safety.

Security reinforcements
Commander Gómez pointed out that this summer special Guardia Civil security forces like SEPRONA and ROCA will be in place on the island. As in years past, an extra continent of traffic agents will be here, too.

President Escandell underscored that the local police force was preparing to expand its ranks to 16 this summer, with enough manpower to cover every shift. He additionally pointed to the formation of the administration's inspection team and brigade of blue zone parking attendants as key to freeing up law enforcement officers for other operations.

 

May 7, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council