The Formentera Office of Commerce and Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses of Formentera (PIMEF) will launch "Black Friday on Formentera" on 25 November as part of their buy-local "Compra a Casa" loyalty programme. During this day, all purchases of €15 and up at Compra a Casa member stores will be entered into a drawing for a €50 gift card. The winner will be announced 29 November and will be able to pick up his or her prize at the PIMEF offices.

18 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Commerce is pleased to announce that, with the addition by Repsol, which distributes butane and propane on the island, of new distribution points on the island, Formentera now has four points of sale in the winter and five in summer, instead of the single distribution point that existed this summer. Also, the company has said that, at the behest of the Consell de Formentera plenary assembly, requests for home delivery have been computerised to make the service more efficient.

President Ana Juan has met with Repsol representatives on several occasions and had asked the Balearic offices of consumer affairs and industry to take the necessary steps to correct the deficiencies detected. She offered that "additional points of sale and computerised distribution should improve the service received by the residents of Formentera".

The points of sale are Comestibles Verdera (Carretera de Porto-salè), Supermercado Avenida (El Pilar de la Mola), Comestibles Sa Fadico (former Comestibles Tur, Carretera La Mola km 6.4) and Set Energía (Repsol butane distributor, Carretera des Ca Marí) and Supermercado Es Caló (summer only). The telephone number for orders is 900 321 900.

Mandatory revisions
Islanders are also reminded of the need to perform periodic inspections of bottled gas installations. Such inspections are mandatory and must be done every five years by qualified installation companies of the users' choice. Avoid scams: don't accept unsolicited revisions.

17 November 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

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