PALMA
SPANISH guitarist Paco de Lucía, originally from Granada, will be the new face of the Balearics at the World Travel Market which opens in London next week.
De Lucía, who now lives in Campos, Majorca, will, it is hoped, be the star attraction on Balearic Day at WTM, one of the most important travel trade fairs in the world, on November 14.
One of the highlights of Balearic Day in London will be a joint presentation by Paco de Lucia and the Balearic President, Francesc Antich, of the new catalogue of Balearic Scenic Arts , a publication created by the Tourism Department which takes a look at a selection of the hundred festivals which take place on the islands throughout the year, as well as providing an insight into the musical offerings of the Balearics. The presentation hopes to contribute to the Tourists Board's current initiative to try and diversify tourism on the islands, while several other events will be taking place during the day at the Balearics' multi-media stand. A new website is going to be launched (www.playademuro.net) which will promote the Playa de Muro Hotel Association, while the Minorcan Tourism Foundation will also be looking to push Minorca. President Antich will host a cocktail party to celebrate the islands' current success in the tourism sector, while also hoping to increase the number of visitors to the Balearics each year. The Balearic stand will also encounter a busy day on Monday 12th, when the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Commerce, Joan Clos, and members of the Spanish Tourist Board, visit in order to give the promotion campaign an extra boost. Over the course of the WT., the Balearic stand will be promoting and presenting several key tourism destinations throughout the islands, including Alcúdia, Playa de Muro, Calviá, Pollença, Can Picafort, Manacor, Cala d'Or, Santa Eulária del Riu, Capdepera, Sant Antoni de Portmany, Cala Millor, Llucmajor, Felanitx, Palma, as well as tourism companies such as Majórica, Reis de Mallorca and Ashome.