A WEB developer has secured its first major overseas contract in a move it hopes will begin an international expansion.

Liverpool agency New Mind’s “destination management system” (DMS), which powers more than 50% of the UK’s official tourist board websites, has been selected by the Costa del Sol Tourist Board.

The company, which recently moved to a new home in the city’s Brunswick Business Park, says the contract “represents a significant milestone in the roll out of New Mind’s international strategy.”

New Mind’s Spanish reseller Vilau secured it the tourist board contract. Now the company has licensed resellers in Spain, Brazil and Italy to support its international growth plans and is in talks with companies in several other countries, including Greece.

New Mind managing director RIchard Veal said: “Two years ago we invested in ‘globalising’ the software in order to be able to ‘localise’ it for various international markets, including the Spanish market, and the investment has come to fruition.

“The Costa del Sol is arguably the jewel in the crown of Spain’s coastal holiday destinations, with more than 17m overnight stays per year, and we are delighted that our software has been chosen by the tourist board.”

The Costa del Sol, whose resorts include Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Malaga, attracts millions of visitors every year, many of them from the UK.

Ricardo Gonzalez, Vilau’s technology director said: “Vilau is delighted to face the challenge of introducing New Mind’s DMS to the Spanish tourism market.

“This renowned solution, widely deployed in other markets, will enable new models of collaboration for the public and private sector and will contribute to the comprehensive development of the Costa del Sol region's tourism industry.”

New Mind is run by directors Andy Abram and Richard Veal, who founded the company together in 1998, and controls an estimated 60% of the UK market for official tourism websites. It recently launched a new tourism and inward investment site for Cardiff.