Balearics to be the media star of this year´s tourism fair

Joan Collins T HE Balearic Government plan to make the most of the official opening of Madrid's 16th International Tourism Fair (Fitur) tomorrow as it coincides with all the events organised for the Day of the Balearics. The King and Queen of Spain will be present at the opening. It is being negotiated with the Royal Palace and the Ministry of the Industry, Tourism and Commerce that King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia should be photographed in front of the Balearic stand with Rafael Nadal, the tennis player from Manacor. He is at the exhibition to promote both the islands and the Majorca Golf tournament. Ibatur has changed the configuration of its stand and now has a stand which satisfies both the demands of the Balearic tourism sector and the visitors. This is part of its strategy to have a maximum presence in the three biggest international tourism fairs (World Travel Market in London, Fitur in Madrid and ITB in Berlin). It has taken several decades for Ibatur to arrive at the perfect profile for this ideal stand. The Balearic stand in Fitur has a total area of 1'200 square metres. Ibatur has designed it especially to promote the four islands. The tourism sector is very satisfied with the changes that have been introduced, as the Balearic stand has become a point of reference of the first order for the Balearic, national and foreign tourist sectors present at international fairs in the last three years. Amongst other events scheduled for the 25th (tomorrow), which will be presided over by the leader of the Balearic Government Jaume Matas, more promotional presentations have been planned. The Council of Ibiza and Formentera will promote tourism in these islands with the presence of the Catalan long distance swimmer, David Meca, who on January 5 completed a swim of 102 kilometres between the Alicante town of Javea and San Antonio in Ibiza. Meca and Nadal will be taking over as tourism ambassadors from Michael Douglas, Claudia Schiffer and Boris Becker. Balearic holiday home owners who have all done their bit to help promote the region at the world's leading travel trade fairs.