Christine WattersonMaó19/01/10 0:00
TW
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The travel trade fair, FITUR, is to be the setting for the signing of agreements with tour operators on Thursday, according to Miquel Ferrer, the recently-appointed Regional Councillor for Tourism, speaking on his first official visit to Menorca during which he took the opportunity to meet various representatives of the Island Council and the tourist sector as well as the island's Mayors.

The signing of the agreement was the central theme for most of the meetings held throughout the day of his visit. "Bearing in mind tourism's fundamental role in the Balearics and the exceptional situation in which we find ourselves, exceptional responses are necessary, such as these agreements which will result in a direct increase in the number of visitors", Ferrer explained.

Marc Pons, President of the Island Council, echoed the importance of tourism and the agreements with tour operators for Menorca and praised the public authorities and private sector for having been able to join forces to bring about a formula which could be the key to future tourism in the islands.

The Regional Councillor declined to give an assessment on the 2009 tourist season, saying that this would be presented at the trade fair in Madrid, which runs from 20th to 24th January, but he did admit that "it is clear that 2009 has been a difficult year, but we are convinced that 2010 will be better".