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There was uproar at the recent Berlin Trade Fair as Mallorca once again took centre stage,
leaving both Ibiza and Formentera in the shadows.
However the result could be a positive one as it seems the island's politicians have finally
had enough, with all demanding changes to the way the two islands promote themselves
at future Trade Fairs.
Last year the Balearic stand at this important fair measured 600 square metres;
this year it was reduced to seventy, without a single neon sign saying either ‘Balears' or ‘Ibiza',
and with one compartment for each Island.
Many of the representatives attending the Fair had to resort to using the Canary Islands
pavilion, which measured more than 1,000 square metres and had ample space to meet
with their German counterparts.
Carmen Ferrer, the Tourism Councillor, bemoaned the fact that many company representatives
who visited the Fair to work and hold meetings did not have sufficient space available.
She continued that she understood the need for austerity, but that this was taking
matters too far.
Although it seems impossible to believe, two areas which are not exactly renowned
as holiday destinations for sun and beach, Siberia and Iraq, had larger, more attractive, stands
than the Balearics, which one witty hotelier christened “a latter day wailing wall!â€
The President of the Consell, Vicent Ferrer, was shocked by what he saw,
promising that next year Ibiza will be promoted in a different manner and not as part
of the general umbrella of either the Balearics or the tourist agency Turespaña.
He continued that he will be having meetings with the mayors of the various boroughs
in the near future to discuss the best way to market the Island.
“Tourism is the key to the quality of life for the Ibicencos,
and we cannot afford to forget thisâ€.
He agreed with the need to cut costs, but claimed that with a little more thought and
communication between the various parties, a better image of the Islands
could have been presented.
He highlighted the emphasis which was being given to the project to completely reform
the hotel coastal strip in Palma, which he feared could have a detrimental effect on Ibiza
as the area was being pushed as ‘the place to stay' in the Balearics.
Alejandro Sancho Ferrer, the Sales Director of the Invisa hotel chain, declared,
“In twenty years of fairs, I have never seen anything like it;
the Berlin Fair is of the utmost importance (to the Balearics) and it is not acceptable
that we should have to work in these conditionsâ€.
The Mayor of Santa Eulalia, Vicent MarÃ, said he felt ashamed to meet leading tour operators
at the stand, “It is impossible to work like this. Tourism is our prime source of income
and we cannot come to the ITB in this way†he commented. ...
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(theibizasun)
