CiF president Jaume Ferrer, tourism councillor Alejandra Ferrer and chief of tourism promotions Carlos Bernús attended the opening event today of Madrid's International Tourism Trade Fair, or FITUR, which runs Wednesday to Sunday (January 23-27).

In a dedicated section within the Balearic Islands' stand at the fair, Formentera will share promotional material related to gastronomy, local heritage and natural spaces, making special mention of “all Formentera has to offer after the rush of the high season”.

New features
Councillor Ferrer will meet with representatives of niche media outlets tomorrow to present some of the pioneering features of Formentera's 2019 effort to attract visitors. Among them is a brand-new tourism website and Formentera 365, an app Ferrer said is aimed at “promoting the local businesses that open more winter months”.

Formentera will also talk to the journalists about a new book on homespun gastronomy called “Sabors de Formentera. Receptes tradicionals d'una illa singular” and trailblazing plans for guided tours on local heritage sites and birdwatching in 2019.

As ever, Formentera's representatives at the fair will talk about nature trails and unveil the 2019 calendar of cultural and sporting events, not to mention dedicate air time to the “Discover Formentera” campaigns of May and October. Another presentation on Friday January 25 will focus exclusively on activities for fans of fitness.

“It will all be tied in”, explained Ferrer, “to Formentera's eternal message for tourists about the importance of striking a balance between tourism and local environmental sustainability”.

The Formentera Council's tourism department reports that from Wednesday to Sunday (January 10-13), island representatives will be at the Vakantiebeurs travel expo in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Tourism councillor Alejandra Ferrer explained the island has a dedicated stand at the trade fair and a Dutch guide “to share the message of the wonders of our island, not just in summer, but during low-season months as well”. A presentation was given to representatives of more than forty specialised media outlets.

“Dutch tourism is immensely important for Formentera”, said Ferrer, “and together with their French counterparts, travellers from the Netherlands are increasingly picking the island as a destination”. She described the typical profile of Dutch travellers as loyal and respectful of the environment.

Ferrer pointed out the direct flights that run between Utrecht and Eivissa and that, with the hand-off on tourism authority already a done deal, Formentera was able to pay for its own stand at the expo.

At noon today representatives of the Formentera Council and the local chamber of commerce handed out prizes for the twelfth Concurs d'Aparadorisme Nadalenc, or “Christmas Window Dressing Contest”. CiF trade councillor Alejandra Ferrer and chamber of commerce spokeswoman Lina Tur visited the winning establishments to deliver the honours.

This year's winning contestants were Sant Ferran's Casa Ortega, which scored a €225 first prize and an honorary plaque, Sant Francesc's Papereria Tur Ferrer (a stationary store) came away with the €150 second prize and plaque, and Parafarmàcia Gomà Roca in Sant Francesc was honoured with the €75 third prize and plaque.  

The contest is put on jointly by the administration and chamber of commerce as a way to promote a festive holiday spirit across local businesses. This year roughly fourteen shops took part.

Trade secretary Alejandra Ferrer met today with Pep Mayans and Lydia Álvarez, the chairman and managing director of the association of small and medium-sized businesses in the Pityusics (PIMEF), and Llorenç Córdoba from the local chamber of commerce, in presenting a special Christmas edition of an island-wide drive known as “Compra a Casa”.  

Ferrer counted 31 local businesses that have joined the campaign since its December 2016 launch, and the 1,717 Formentera shoppers with Compra a Casa loyalty cards, consumers' ticket to big discounts. The programme, Ferrer said, is about supporting independent businesses on the island and enlisting consumers and merchants both in enlivening Formentera streets.

Buying local pays off
Two measures have been introduced as part of the buy-local push. The first, “Al Nadal Compra a Casa” (Buy local this Christmas), rewards shoppers for buying at participating stores with €200, €100 and €50 Compra a Casa gift cards for the first-, second- and third-place winners.

With the second measure, “Anar al Mercat de Nadal té premi” (The Christmas Market pays off), shoppers get a ticket for every €15 spent at the Christmas Market, and five lucky ticket holders will be selected to win a €100 Compra a Casa gift card. The drawing will take place on Thursday, January 10, 2018.

Details
PIMEF director Lidia Álvarez explained that in 2018, card-holding shoppers spent €1,121,843 at participating Compra a Casa businesses. That added up to €21,689 in discounts.

Decorating storefronts for the holidays
The Formentera Council is teaming up with the chamber of commerce to organise the twelfth Concurs d'Aparadorisme Nadalenc (“Christmas Window Decoration Contest”). Businesses wishing to participate have until November 30 to sign up.

Winners will be announced December 4. The first prize includes €225, the second comes with €150 and the third-place winner will receive €75. The three winners will be sent home with a commemorative plaque as well.