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REGIONAL Minister for Tourism, Miquel Nadal, yesterday described the 24.6 million euros allocated to his department for promotional purposes in the 2009 Balearic budget as “insufficient.” He added however, that thanks to the “sensitivity” of the Balearic government to the importance of Tourism to the Islands, the fund will add up to over 30 million euros once Year End accounts have been finalised with the addition of an extra 5.5 million euros.

Nadal was speaking yesterday at the Parliamentary debates which are currently being held in Palma to finalise and agree on the 2009 regional budget. He said that his department would do “everything possible” within the financial restraints of the funds which have been allocated, but would have preferred to work on issues which were of such crucial importance to the Islands with “more freedom.” Nadal said that since his appointment as Minister following the resignation of his predecessor Francesc Buils, he has met with leaders in the sector including hotel federations and hostelry workers representatives to foster a united front in keeping the Islands as a number one tourist destination. He said that over the next two years, more powers for promotion and administration would he handed over from regional government to the individual Island Councils and that actions taken by the Ministry would be in broad consensus with tourist organisations which give the region so much business.