La Palma has appointed leading travel and tourism public relations and marketing agency, Hills Balfour, to spearhead its public relations campaign in the UK & Ireland for the remainder of the year.

The partnership has been signed to further awareness of the destination (one of the seven Canary Islands) in the UK & Ireland market, as well as position La Palma, otherwise known as La Isla Bonita meaning ‘’The pretty island’, as a short haul destination with a variety of offerings.

The island aims to sell itself as the ideal for those interested in nature, adventure, stargazing, diving, gastronomy and culture (historic and modern).

Alicia Vanoostende Simili, tourism minister at La Palma, said of the appointment: “It is a very exciting time for us.

“The UK & Ireland are key markets for La Palma and we were looking for a strong agency to bolster our efforts.

“We believe Hills Balfour is the perfect fit given its impressive credentials that showcase numerous high profile campaigns for its clients, both in Europe and beyond.

“This, coupled with their unrivalled position and reputation in the UK & Ireland market place, made them the obvious choice for us.”

This year and next are destined to be an exceptional year for La Palma as they welcome the launch of easyJet’s inaugural direct flight route from London Gatwick to La Palma on October 1st.

In addition to increasing awareness of the islands offerings and its accessibility from the UK, Hills Balfour’s proactive public relations campaign will aim to encourage visitor numbers to La Palma from the UK & Ireland.

Amy Scott, director of PR at Hills Balfour, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with La Palma.

“The island is a hidden gem within the Canary Islands crown, brimming with untapped beauty and exceptional experiences.

“The island has so much to offer UK visitors and with easyJet adding a new flight into the island, La Palma is now all the more accessible.

“The next six6 months will be very exciting indeed”.