Debate on the future of tourism opens

AROUND 100 representatives from all tourism sectors and subsectors, from both public and private entities, are taking part in a Professional Tourism Forum in Palma, where they are debating and analysing the existing tourism situation in the Balearics and its future. Amparo Fernandez, Director General of Turespaña, opened the Forum yesterday in the Convention Centre of the Hotel Gran Melia Victoria. It is part of a series of activities for the Technotourist Fair, although the fair itself is biennial. In her speech, Fernandez stressed the importance of cooperation, both between Government institutions and with private companies, to “advance the management and development of our tourist areas”. She added that she wished those taking part success in their debates.
Also present at the opening of the Forum was the Balearic Minister for Tourism, Joan Flaquer, the Mayor of Palma, Catalina Cirer, the Council of Majorca's councillor for the President's Department, Francesc Buils, the Director General of Tourist Promotion, Eduardo Gamero, his opposite number in Commerce, Francesc Tutso, the Director of Expansion of the CAM bank, Gabriel Sagrista, and the Director General of Marketing from Sol Melia, Luis del Olmo. For his part, Flaquer, expressed his “satisfaction” that the Forum was being repeated, especially in a good tourist year, because he considered it a “good time to reflect on the path to follow” and recommended that the private sector should make efforts to “adapt themselves to the ever increasing demands” of potential visitors to the islands. He recommended that the Forum's debates should be carried out “with calmness and serenity” as he considered that, with these qualities “the best decisions are always taken”. Yesterday there were debates about tourist trends, new technologies applied in the sector, commercial activity and complementary businesses.