A microphone failure promoted actor Michael Douglas to President of the Balearic Islands at the Fitur travel trade fair in Madrid. Just as the President and the actor were being announced 'Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the Balearic Islands…Michael Douglas', the mike failed, omitting the word 'and'. The new President was on better form than last year when he claimed to be too old to come to Ibiza, instead choosing to plug Ibiza's World Heritage City status.
Other news from the fair is that the conversion of Ibiza's castle to a Parador hotel will start this year and last about 3 years, also the Spanish national tourism promotional organisation Turespaña will be spending €10 million to publicise the heritage side of Ibiza. Finally an improvement in the British market is predicted for the island which receives more British visitors than any other nationality.