Alejandra Ferrer, the Vice President and Councillor of Tourism, together with Catalina Ramis, Data Observatory Department Technian, presented the results of the Tourism Satisfaction Barometre today in the Sala de Cultura (Cinema). This barometre is based on nearly 2,500 surveys seeking to gauge tourists' degree of satisfaction and analyse potential threats Formentera faces as a destination as well as its strengths to take measures that can best satisfy tourists and islanders alike. "Indeed, the two groups often concur", explained Councillor Ferrer.

Beaches, landscape and climate continue to rank among visitors' favourite aspects of Formentera, with a particularly noteworthy increase in visitors' sense of tranquility. The Vice President pointed out that the feeling of saturation in the island's ability to accommodate people and vehicles, together with high prices, continue to rank among visitors' least favourite aspects of Formentera. But Ferrer stressed that "overall satisfaction remains above 99%...99.2%, which is exceptional". The most prevalent visitors were from mainland Spain, followed by Italian.

Additionally, Alejandra Ferrer explained that rankings of visits to heritage and cultural sites went up as well, along with gastronomy, local cuisine, sports and other activities long the subject of promotion. Likewise, the number of repeat visitors is high: more than 60% of visitors come back and have done so for more than ten years. Satisfaction with service from staff at lodgings and restaurants has improved, Ferrer said. "Across the board, measures related to COVID-19 have meant visitors feel better cared for, and this may be a chance to see to it those measures well established, if not compulsory". The tourism councillor remarked that the business of regulating the number of day visitors to the island remained unfinished. "The figure is very high and generates a feeling of saturation", Ferrer said. "Day visitors want to see everything in a few hours, and they frequently travel in vehicles, which means, the number of vehicles and people being constant, islanders and overnight tourists' feeling of saturation is intensified".

The meeting was also attended by President Ana Juan, who underscored, first, "the work done by staff at the Data Observatory and the Formentera Office of Tourism to develop a diagnosis "that will tell us where we are doing well and where we can improve". She noted that the season "was good, but in certain periods we had the perception of saturation on our roads and beaches; this is insight that we will consider as we work on future initiatives to improve this situation, strike a balance on that perception on the part of residents and tourists".

18 November 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Consell de Formentera President Ana Juan sat down today at the Consolat de Mar with the First Minister of the Balearic Government, Francina Armengol, in the two premiers' first official meeting. President Juan spoke to the Balearic First Minister about the issues that are "critical if Formentera is to develop the policies and government agreements that are on the docket this legislature".

The island's top official began by underscoring "keen coordination" with the regional administration and "total willingness" by the Balearic president "to get things done and launch initiatives" that concern the people of Formentera in mobility, healthcare, the port in La Savina, the environment and more.

On mobility, Juan remarked on the "urgent need" for a scheduling solution for early-bird and late-night connections to Eivissa, as well as the importance of "pushing forward the decree on maritime transport".

Juan also seized the opportunity to speak to the Balearic premier about tackling problems at La Savina port with a big-picture fix and across-the-board commitment from the responsible government agencies. She insisted that the guiding principle would be "Formentera decides how the port is used", and stressed that islanders want "a port for people, with room for public-use moorings, private boats and a dry marina".

061 base

On healthcare, the two premiers brought up permanent facilities for 061 emergency services, and a local option for islanders who require kidney dialysis, a project for which a contract will soon be awarded. President Juan insisted that local dispatching operations for the emergency call service must be a reality as soon as possible, and First Minister Armengol put the start of works to equip Formentera with a 061 base in 2022.

The new base is expected to have three teams, which can be expanded as needed. The project will involve an investment of €1.9 million euros from the Balearic health service, IB-SALUT. Each shift will be assured by a team of seven on-duty staff and five staff on-call, and the building will have four parking spaces for service operator vehicles.

Regulated moorage

On the environment, Juan proposed impetus be given to regulated moorage across the island, a plea which has already been articulated on numerous occasions by both the local plenary and regional parliament. The President also pointed up builds of facilities to handle construction waste and composting, "and pushing forward green energy policies to decarbonise Es Ca Marí substation".

Juan also insisted on "the need to speed up the Formentera Museum project", a project whose directive plan is already complete. The two officials also addressed issues such as the regional administration's draft budget for 2022, including €9 million for Formentera's government (one million more than 2021), as well as the state of play on planned public housing in Sant Ferran. They likewise took stock of initiatives that have garnered support locally since 2015, like the law which allows for limitations on in-bound vehicle traffic, together the town of Sant Ferran's new educational complex, which opened in September.

12 November 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Local government held a one-off plenary session today in which Antoni Tur Serra, from the Socialist Workers' Party of the Balearic Islands and Spain (PSIB-PSOE) took over for Councillor Antonio J. Sanz. Antoni Tur, who will helm the local offices of environment and inspection services underscored his "satisfaction and enthusiasm" as he assumed a position "of great responsibility and [prepared] to work with cabinet councillors". Tur applauded the efforts of his predecessor and pledged to keep pushing forward "cross-cutting initiatives" like the island's new waste contract, regulation at S'Estany des Peix and the energy transition.

On behalf of the cabinet, President Ana Juan wished Councillor Tur the best of luck in their joint efforts ahead.

10 November 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Councillor of Interior Josep Marí, Chief of Formentera Local Police Félix Ramos and Police Liaison Officer Pilar Daviu visited the Eivissa campus of the University of the Balearic Islands for an award ceremony hosted by the Institute of Public Security of the Balearic Islands (Institut de Seguretat Pùblica de les Illes Balears/ISPIB), a division of the Directorate General of Emergencies and Interior.

Special honours were awarded to the Consell de Formentera and to the town councils of Eivissa, Sant Antoni de Portmany, Santa Eulària des Riu and Sant Josep de sa Talaia; two certificates of public acknowledgement for outstanding efforts and more than ten years of service went to liaison officers in the towns of Eivissa and Sant Josep, and special mention was received by the territorial coordinator of the Eivissa Local Police Department's Road Education programme, Alberto Serrano.

Eleven distinctions highlighted the work of Pine Islands local police for their dedication to the programmes which the ISPIB coordinates, particularly during the pandemic. Councillor Marí wished to “congratulate Officers Daviu and Serrano for their achievements and the accolades received, as well as our island's entire force for their extra efforts in times which the pandemic made particularly trying”.

The Director General of Emergencies and Interior, Jaume Barceló, underscored the officers' vocation for public service, especially during the pandemic, and said that “from the moment COVID-19 pushed us to activate the Territorial Civil Protection Plan, our local departments have been key to controlling the pandemic through patrols and enforcement of measures to mitigate the effects of the disease and stop its spread”.

4 November 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera