By Humphrey Carter
TOURISTS genuinely concerned about what their tourist tax money is being used for, can now consult a special website which will explain in detail the various projects the money, some 40 million euros per year, is funding and what the government's aims are. The website, (www.ecotasas.org) was unveiled yesterday by Tourism Minister Celesti Alomar and currently details 40 projects and features some 300 photographs. Accompanied by the Balearic Minister for Innovation, Príam Villalonga, Alomar said that the website is all part of the tourist tax project and is an important vehicle for explaining to tourists the reason for and aims of the tourist tax while projecting the Balearics' new competitive image. The new website in fact links together three sites set up last year, www.balears-leisure-experiences. com, www.visitbalears.com and www.finestraturitica.com. The first website provides specific information about the seven new tourism products the Balearics offers such as agrotourism, cycletourism, alternative sports, hiking, culture and golf etc. and also offers on-line reservation facilities. Since November 352.400 people have accessed the page. The second page is aimed more at individual tourists providing specific information about distinct places, walks, visits, tourism guides and the weather. According to Alomar, this site attracts some 26.000 visits per day and in April alone, was visited by 761.316 people.
The last site is aimed at professionals in the tourist industry providing the latest news and information about the region's tourism infrastructure.
The new website has been set up and will be managed by the CITTIB; centre for tourism investigation and technology at ParcBIT and Villalonga said that it is important for the tourism industry to make maximum use of the latest technology. He also said that the website will provide net users across the world with instant access to the Balearics.