The Consell de Formentera and the Chamber of Commerce of Eivissa-Formentera are teaming up to present the thirteenth Concurs d’Aparadorisme Nadalenc ("Christmas Shop Window Contest") in an effort to get out the Christmas spirit at local businesses this holiday season.

Participants can register from today, 11 November, to 20 November at 1.30pm. The contest is open to Formentera businesses that continue to operate during the Christmas holidays. Original homemade displays are preferred.

Decorations will be reviewed Thursday 28 November and winners will be announced Monday 2 December. First prize comes with a €225 and an honourary plaque, second prize €150 and a plaque, and third prize €75 and plaque.

Signups are being held at the Chamber of Commerce and the Citizen's Information Office (OAC).

The winners in 2018 were Casa Ortega, Llibreria Tur and Parafarmacia Nuria Gomà Roca.

11 November 2019
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera

When London’s World Travel Market tourism expo opened its doors today, Consell de Formentera president and tourism chief Alejandra Ferrer was once again on hand to represent the island with director of tourism Carles Bernús. Formentera will share a stand at this year’s event with the other Balearic Islands, while sustainability and environmental and cultural values will occupy a central place among the island’s talking points.

For Balearic Islands Day tomorrow, the local delegation will unveil a programme built round the archipelago’s status as a top-tier destination, with President Ferrer ready to spotlight the island’s cache of treasures (natural settings, cultural commodities and heritage sites) together with infrastructure for sport and local gastronomy. The representatives will highlight local sustainability strategies like this summer’s trial run of a scheme to cap the total number of vehicles allowed on the island, and measures to safeguard posidonia seagrass.

As President Ferrer pointed out: “British travellers are booking trips differently now, building their own holiday packages online. And that’s an opportunity—we can be angling for better occupancy rates and more market share through direct sales”.

Looking ahead to the 2020 season, the local reps will be using WTM to reach out to travel agents and PR firms from England, Netherlands and USA. They will also get meetings on the books with online portals and airlines.

In the ether at this year’s WTM is the implosion of Thomas Cook tour operators and uncertainty surrounding Brexit. “British travellers constitute a slim 5% of our total visitors, but make up a considerable part of our off-season numbers”, Ferrer said. “Formentera is coordinating its strategy with the other island councils and the regional government”, she continued, saying the idea was to “roll with recent punches and get our numbers back on track, either by identifying new markets or reaching out to new tour operators and, ultimately, trying new promotional strategies”.

4 November 2019
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Formentera’s councillor of housing, seniors and entrepreneurship Ana Juan met today with Antoni Gamundí, head of the Open University for the Aged (Universitat Oberta per a Majors, UOM) and the two discussed using support for Formentera’s UOM programme to increase engagement with elderly islanders in the coming academic year. Councillor Juan described Formentera as “ready and willing to develop the multi-location, seven-part lecture series”.

17 October 2019
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera

The trade office of the Consell de Formentera announces it will begin accepting applications today from would-be vendors at the 2019-2020 Christmas Market (Mercat Nadalenc). Applicants have until 31 October to file their request; in person at the Citizen’s Information Office (OAC) or online on the OVAC virtual platform.

Put on by the Consell de Formentera in an effort to bring to life the holiday season by mobilising the local businesses that stay open in winter, the Christmas Market settles into the centre of Sant Francesc, Plaça de la Constitució, on 29 November, and remains open through 6 January 2020.

The Consell de Formentera will assign no more than eight stands: four will go to local businesses and artisans and the other four for food and beverages.

Up to three permits will be assigned to other businesses, food and drinks vendors or artisans who own a stand of the same size and characteristics as the Consell-owned vending huts. Beyond this number, more permits may be assigned, but grantees will be determined in strict observance of the order in which applications are received.

In a tent provided by the Consell de Formentera, a rotating suite of interested schools, church parishes and non-profits will be able to sell concessions as well. Reasoning that the Christmas Market has become an established feature of the holiday landscape in the four years since it launched, vendors will no longer be exempt from paying a levy for occupying public thoroughfares. Pursuant to the ordinance published 16 April 2013 in issue 51 of the Balearic gazette (BOIB), the levy applies to vendors who obtain economic benefit occupying public-use land with tables, chairs or huts; offering performances or attractions; exercising street or itinerant trades; or filming. Food and beverage concessionaires will be charged a €576 tax, while other vendors must pay €216.

For applications submitted on time and in tune with conditions, two drawings will be overseen by the municipal clerk—for food/beverage businesses and for regular vending—to determine the distribution of permits.

See the terms of the provisional regulation on Christmas Market applicants here.

15 October 2019
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera