Chinese group shows interest in Balearic tourism know-how

Representatives of the government of Hainan, a tropical island in China nearly 12 times the size of the Balearics, are in Palma to study tourism in the islands. They also plan to have talks with local hoteliers, to negotiate management contracts for the burgeoning hotel industry. The meeting has been promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Majorca, Ibiza and Formentera, presided byMiquel Lladó. Majorcan hotel chains such as Barceló, Sol Melia and Renthotel are already negotiating contracts to manage hotels in the island, whose chief market is in China itself, neighbouring countries and Europe. Some European tour operators have already shown interest in flying to Hainan for its tropical climate. The group was yesterday received by Pere Sampol, the deputy government leader and minister of commerce, and today they are due to visit the chief tourist resorts in the north of the island. Lladó said yesterday that the Balearics would export its know how and standards of quality to the Chinese island. He added that firms from the service sector such as Humiclima have already broken into the Chinese market.