The Balearic Islands tourism board (AETIB), Palma's Alliance for Excellency in Tourism (Exceltur) and the region's Ministry of Tourism have come together to launch a new think tank to pave the way for tourism recovery in the islands.

The aim of the newly formed think tank is to bring together the public and private sector to seek ways for tourism in the Balearic Islands (comprising Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera) to restart activities as soon as possible.

The discussions highlighted the development of sustainable transport solutions as a fundamental part of the recovery strategy for the tourism sector. This includes new road transport services in Mallorca and a renovated fleet of environmentally friendly buses, as well as improved timetables with better frequencies, which should be operational from January 2021. Other initiatives aimed at improving Mallorca's tourism proposition include improved rail connections; with direct connections from the airport in Palma to some of the main tourism areas on the island.

The Minister of Tourism, Iago Negueruela, also called for an extension of the furlough scheme in the archipelago stating that the Balearic Islands are entering a “complicated period of hardship”. He added that the public and private sector, as well as trade unions “must remain firm and united” to move out of this crisis and emphasised it is crucial to reposition the islands as a safe tourism destination through initiatives such as the Pilot Plan; a test project launched in June to bring visitors back to the Balearic Islands in a controlled and safe way.

The announcement comes after Negueruela openly welcomed the decision of the UK Government to introduce a more targeted approach to travel corridors by separating some islands from mainland countries. He stated that he is confident than the economic recovery will be accelerated with the arrival of British visitors and outlined that the government is negotiating the reopening of safe travel corridors for tourists without the need for quarantine on return.

ENDS

The Balearic Islands tourism board is represented in the UK by LOTUS.

Editorial enquiries can be directed to
BalearicIslands@wearelotus.co.uk (Marta Moya/ Kate McWilliams/ Weronika Waskiw)