The Formentera Council's office of tourism reports that on Wednesday February 20 at 11.00am the Sala de Cultura will be the scene of a gathering to inform islanders about the effort to regulate for-profit holiday rentals. Tourism and land councillor Alejandra Ferrer and David Francés, the administration's legal counsel on land-use for tourism, will lead an overview of recent changes to the local system of regulation.

The gathering will be an occasion for islanders to learn about the so-called “Plan for Quality in Vacation Rentals” which involves setting guidelines for single- and multi-family homes. Twenty-six of the preconditions are non-negotiable; other criteria, of which there are 20, would be applied distinctly, and only 14 would be required for a dwelling to be eligible for rental.

Discussion will also focus on changes to the tax bylaw underpinning a levy for administrative services in tourism as well as the bylaw regulating the per-bed cost of permits to rent out accommodation.

The effort to regulate holiday rentals, part of a recent Govern-backed tweak of tourism legislation, will also be addressed. Application deadlines will be communicated as well so that islanders can start preparing required documentation.

Other points of discussion: the zoning plan for tourism that followed final approval of Formentera's land-use strategy (PTI) and the new cap on holiday rentals. Islanders will also be given the opportunity to ask questions or voice concerns. The gathering is open to anyone interested in finding out more about the changes.

The Formentera Council tourism office reports that Sunday to Tuesday (February 10-12) is Milan's BIT, an international travel expo, where Formentera will be promoted, according to department head Alejandra Ferrer, as a “destination for travelers interested in fitness, culture, nature and gastronomy and one with an identity all its own”.

The councillor said BIT—like Madrid's FITUR—“is a chance to spotlight the island's 2019 calendar of sporting events, not to mention the nature, scenery, culture and gastronomy that can sweeten the deal for visitors”. The events programme, said Ferrer, makes it possible to enjoy Formentera 365 days a year.

Ferrer, who traced the idea of Formentera having a dedicated stand at BIT to the fact that Italians are among the island's leading visitors, insisted  promotion would focus on the island's off-season charm. Standouts on the promotional catalog are fitness fixtures like the half-marathon (Mitja Marató), Formentera All Round Trail, Formentera to Run, Marnaton, a mountain bike circuit around the island and the Triatló, while cultural events include (but are not limited to) Formentera Film, Formentera 2.0 and Formentera Jazz Festival.

The events calendar is a sign of Formentera's success positioning itself as a destination for fitness and culture. The councillor pointed out that “meets and gatherings are always organised around a respect for the environment and sustainable use of natural resources”.

Discover Formentera
Another feature of promotional efforts will be the discounts and bonuses offered by local businesses as part of “Discover Formentera” in May and October. “Gastronomic weekends”, in particular, is a heavy hitter.

Newness doesn't stop there. Local reps will also talk about the island's new tourism website formentera.es and links to HD cameras across the island; a book of traditional recipes called “Sabores de Formentera”; a brochure for birdwatchers and another edition of the island's “cultural nature trails”.

The Formentera Council's tourism department is currently manning its own stand at “Madrid Fusión”, a gastronomy expo that will run through Wednesday in Madrid. Department chief Alejandra Ferrer and Carlos Bernús, the head of tourism promotions, are there with chefs from six Formentera restaurants as well as two producers —one of oil and one specialised in wines— to showcase the best Formentera has to offer in terms of gastronomy.

Every day of the three-day event will see two new restaurants conducting a “showcooking” session, which Ferrer promised would include “local products being used to reinterpret traditional cuisine”. The wine cellar and oil producer are standing ready with samples of their Made-on-Formentera products. The event, said Ferrer, is focused on gastronomy, and “enables us to spotlight the identity that sets us apart from other emerging destinations, helping to keep us competitive”.

Book of traditional recipes
Formentera's stand at the expo will be the place to go for tourism-tuned info. Among the run of new material the island's reps will have on hand is a 2019 edition of “Sabors de Formentera”, a book purporting to offer “traditional recipes from a singular island”. Ferrer thanked Vicent Morna and Artur Portas for giving the team permission to tap into the trademark local recipes of their “Cuina Típica de Formentera” in putting together the new book, which she called “true to our island's culinary tradition”.

Ferrer also gave thanks to the six participating restaurants, Vogamarí, Pinatar, Es Molí de Sal, Casbah, Can Pasqual and Capri, the wine cellar Terramoll and the oil producers at Ca na Platera. This year marks the first that Formentera has a presence at the expo, which is one of the leading gastronomy-related events in Spain.

Tourism councillor Alejandra Ferrer stood before representatives of trade media outlets today midday at Madrid's International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) to talk about Formentera's qualities as a destination for sport. The gathering was part of the Formentera Council's promotional efforts at the country's leading travel expo, which continues until Sunday.

The moment served to spotlight the island's 2019 calendar of sporting events, not to mention spread the gospel about what Ferrer called “the backdrop of nature, scenery, culture and gastronomy awaiting athletes of all sorts who opt to make their fitness pursuits the opportunity for a visit to the island”.

Ferrer underscored sporting events like the half-marathon (Mitja Marató), Formentera All Round Trail, Formentera to Run, Marnaton, mountain bikers' Volta a Formentera and the island's triathlon. She said recent years have seen Formentera become a destination for fitness aficionados and highlighted “the stress event organisers place on protecting the environment and using natural resources without depleting them, one reason local gatherings always have a cap on attendance”.

Travel discounts
The Council spokeswoman also presented, together with the fitness event organisers of Unisport Consulting and transport company Trasmediterránea, a deal to improve travel options to the island for individuals coming from mainland Spain and Palma to join events like the half-marathon, the Volta and the triathlon.

To that end, Trasmediterránea offers athletes discounted tickets on journeys to the islands from Palma, Barcelona, Valencia and Gandia. Athletes can also bring their gear (bicycle included) for free.

The councillor hailed the deal, which she said was about “making it easier for sports lovers to get to the island and to get here with their own equipment, too”. Ferrer also drew attention to the discounts and bonuses that local businesses offer as part of the “Discover Formentera” pushes in May and October.