For the first time since summer's end, today the Organising and Promoting Tourism Committee (Comissió d'Ordenació i Promoció Turística, COPT) convened for a gathering chaired by Alejandra Ferrer, vice president and councillor of tourism, and Carlos Bernús, head of marketing of the Consell de Formentera. Also on the COPT are representatives from the local tourism sector, like the Hotel Association of Formentera, Chamber of Commerce, PIMEF, CAEB and political groups, including President Ana Juan on behalf of the PSOE.

Attendees reviewed occupancy data from the season and agreed on the date of a presentation of the tourist barometer, which will take place on 22 November.

Councillor Ferrer presented Formentera's proposed 2023 marketing plan, which is based on "promoting the island at fairs, workshops and presentations where we will highlight sustainability and showcase made-on-Formentera products, local heritage and cuisine, family tourism, and all the pre- and post-season programming". This proposal also includes the calendar of trade shows to be attended in Spain, Europe and other locations.

Attendees adopted the proposal, which envisions ongoing presentations of the destination to consolidate Formentera's two main issuing markets, Spain and Italy, and promote the low and mid-season. The proposal also involves reinforced efforts to boost the Portuguese, French and Dutch markets. Likewise, following the positive results of online campaigns in 2022, promotional actions will renewed across a variety of digital platforms.

In the last item on the agenda, attendees were briefed on the start of work on the new strategic tourism plan for 2023-2030, which will set marketing strategies, new tourism products and activities and tools to diversify and lengthen the traditional tourist season, all framed within the 2030 Agenda and the importance of circularity and sustainability.

15 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Today at the World Travel Market in London, representatives of the Balearic government offered a presentation titled "Balearic Islands: a case study in responsible tourism". Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera, stressed that "Formentera has long since begun the search for a sustainable brand of tourism that respects our island and appreciates its uniqueness". Indeed, President Juan pointed out that sustainability has been at the forefront of the island's marketing efforts at WTM 2022.

After the presentation, at a round-table discussion which included the four Balearic Islands, Alejandra Ferrer, vice president and councillor of tourism, offered an overview of efforts in recent years to make the island more sustainable, including regulating vehicles brought and driven on the island (formentera.eco), safeguarding posidonia seagrass (Save Posidonia Project), offering drivers a local network of electric vehicle charging stations, eliminating plastic bags and more.

"Among our challenges moving forward is collaboration to protect the Mediterranean Sea and regulate mass anchorage on our coastline", she said. "Meanwhile, we must continue to safeguard culture, traditions and heritage so that Formentera remains a unique experience, which is what draws our visitors, while at the same time striking a balance with regard to residents' quality of life. In due form, we are seizing the chance that WTM provides to drive these points home among the tour operators and travel agents with whom we are meeting", said Ferrer.

Promoting the pre and post season
Formentera will be promoted at the World Travel Market in London from 7 to 9 November. At a stand which the island will share with the rest of the archipelago, visitors can learn about the local offer and, in particular, off-season draws like cultural, sports and leisure events.

Carlos Bernús, head of marketing, will also be present at the expo, where local representatives will make contact with tour operators and travel agents, not to mention niche press outlets, which "are showing great interest in our destination and sustainability-forward projects".

This year, the stand has a poster reading "Under the Formentera blue lies the posidonia green" with a QR code where smart-phone users can download catalogues digitally to save paper. In these catalogues Formentera will show the opportunities it offers in sport, culture, heritage and cuisine, as well as proposals to go into nature or ornithological routes, while knowing its past and the most deeply rooted traditions of the island.

8 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Tourism is pleased to report that the island will be present at London's World Travel Market (WTM) between 7 and 9 November. On hand to promote Formentera at the UK's biggest travel expo will be Ana Juan, Alejandra Ferrer and Carlos Bernús (president, vice president/tourism councillor and tourism marketing chief of the Consell de Formentera, respectively).

President Juan said that visitors to Formentera's section of the Balearic Islands stand "can learn about the local offer and, in particular, off-season draws like cultural, sports and leisure events".

At 10.30am on day two of the expo, Tuesday 8 November, "Balearic Islands, the tourism of the future" will offer a look at the region's characteristics as a destination. The presentation will be followed by a round-table discussion with the participation of all the islands.

There, Vice President Ferrer will tout Formentera's sustainable side and highlight projects like formentera.eco to regulate incoming vehicles and Save Posidonia Project to protect posidonia. She will also explain "other steps to ensure that each visit to Formentera remains a unique experience and that our visitors are aware of the place they are visiting, where resources are limited and must be used with care".

Formentera's representatives at the WTM will also make contact with tour operators and travel agents who have already programmed their 2023 seasons. Visitors to this year's stand will find a poster reading "Under the Formentera blue lies the posidonia green", where, by scanning a QR code, they can download literature about the island digitally to save paper.

These catalogues spotlight Formentera's offer in sport, culture, heritage and cuisine, as well as nature activities, ornithological routes and ways to discover our past and most deeply rooted traditions.

4 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Commerce is pleased to report that individuals who wish to operate a booth at the 2022/2023 Christmas Market (Mercat Nadalenc) may submit applications from today. For ten calendar days, applications will be accepted at the Citizen Information Office (OAC) and online through the OVAC.

The Mercat Nadalenc will run Friday 2 December to 6 January 2023, both inclusive, in Plaça de la Constitució and Carrer dels Llaüts dels Damians in Sant Francesc.

The Consell de Formentera will assign up to seven booths for retail at the Mercat Nadalenc; three small booths for businesses and artisans; three for the hospitality sector and one for schools, public organisations and/or non-profit associations. The market will run Monday to Saturday, with vending booths operating 10.30am to 1.30pm and 5.00 pm to 8.00pm, and restaurant booths opening from 12.30pm to 4.00pm and 6.00pm to 11.00pm.
 
Mercat Nadalenc provisional terms and application.

29 October 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera