Spain once again shows its enormous diversity in Fitur, a new edition of the International Tourism Fair that will take place this week in Madrid and where the actors of the national and international tourism sector meet. In a world that is increasingly connected and with less time available, the value of differentiation is becoming increasingly important, and the different Spanish regions try to take advantage of their qualities and conditions to attract travelers who seek to go beyond mass tourism or the ‘ Sun and beach’.
The bets of the autonomous governments go through trying to strengthen what they already have and framing it in the challenges of today’s world at the hands of local businessmen and neighbors. The coexistence between sustainability and tourism comes to the fore, along with new lodging formulas or experiences focused on the environment. Some even seek to flee from the masses and try to integrate the visitor with the environment. All this, watered by the local gastronomy, differential hallmark of our country.
From this Wednesday the 18th to Sunday the 22nd of January, Ifema Madrid is hosting a new edition of the most important tourism fair in Spain, which this year also expands its sub-themes to include technology applied to tourism, cruises, destinations, LGBT+ attention, inconacion film shoots , attracting talent, the Spanish language or sports. These are some of the tourist novelties for this 2022 presented by the different autonomous communities in Fitur:
Extremadura seeks astrotourists and people without haste
Faced with the rush of day to day and the cities overcrowded by tourism, Extremadura seeks to claim itself as a land to which to travel without timetables. To do this, it will value its natural offer, ecotourism and adventures in its more than 50 protected natural spaces. The proposed region for the time to observe nature or birds in the ‘Unesco Natural Corridor’, an ecological corridor made up of four spaces recognized by the international organization where you can also enjoy one of the clearest night skies in Europe. With a view to becoming a paradise for the practice of astrotourism, it will value the viewpoints, trails and certified accommodation to enjoy the stars.
The ‘ecocampings’ arrive in Valencia
A new generation of campsites arrives in the Mediterranean. The Generalitat Valenciana has given the go-ahead to all the environmental permits that are pending and punctual in Fitur the ‘ecocamping’ of Gandia, a new tourist accommodation proposal developed by Sunny Resorts that offers bungalows, camping areas and ‘glamping’ (tents already assembled) 15 minutes from the sea and between orange trees. Located on more than 150,000 square meters of marsh, it will replicate the successful model that is already operating in Nazaré (Portugal). Coworking or gym rooms will be added to the usual restaurant, aquatic, sports or children’s areas. The promoter assures that it will attract close to 100,000 tourists a year.
The traditional, guarantee of success in Castilla y León
Castilla y Leon bets on the safe side and seeks to continue consolidating itself as a destination linked to heritage, wine and gastronomy. The history of the region continues to attract all kinds of tourists and those who are curious to see the more than 500 fortifications, 406 monasteries or 130 places with artistic or historical importance. In this edition, he presents the master plan for the Camino de Santiago Francés, which seeks to value the journey of the main Jacobean route as it passes through León, Burgos or Palencia, in addition to continuing to promote wine tourism, where its nine certified wine routes stand out. .
Wine plays a prominent role in La Rioja and Euskadi
This year, La Rioja becomes the wine region par excellence in the world, taking advantage of the World Wine Tourism Conference that will celebrate its seventh meeting in Logroño. After recovering the figures prior to the pandemic in overnight stays, his government ensures that stays are being extended by extending the season from Easter to autumn.
During the fair, not only will wine be discussed, but its gastronomy will also be valued while seeking to vindicate the ‘almazuela’ as the origin of ‘patchwork’, a sewing method that is trending and that is part of its textile and craft tradition. The Basque Country also adds to the wine experiences and will promote the Rioja Alavesa brand, which has now become its first ‘smart tourist destination’ along with two other regions.
The ‘Picasso Year’ focuses the tourist commitment of Andalusia
The 50th anniversary of the death of the universal painter will serve to commemorate his legacy, and the Andalusian government has wanted to invest heavily in this event as a way of attracting cultural tourism to the Costa del Sol. The City Council and the Junta join forces to develop an annual program that uses themed routes, exhibitions, concerts or specific breakdowns, with the Museo Picasso Málaga as the epicenter of all of them.
Tour all corners of Catalonia
1,496 kilometers by car through the four Catalan provinces. The ‘Grand Tour’ is the new tourist proposal of the Generalitat to discover the culture, the natural landscapes and the local enogastronomy over thirteen days. Inspired by the great voyages of the 19th century, it proposes a journey to taste, without rhythm and with the sole objective of discovering the life of the towns and local products. The route begins in Barcelona and returns, among other towns, to Tarragona, Lleida, La Seu d’Urgell and Figueres, going from the contrast of the Pyrenees to the tranquility of the Costa Brava.
Madrid promotes its nightlife and golf for tourists with money
The Community of Madrid seeks to attract travelers with money. To do this, it turns its tourism bet towards two unclassical sectors: golf and nightlife. In the case of the former, the region has found that this type of tourist spends an average of 55% more than other travelers, generating an impact of 235 million euros that expands to sectors such as hotels, restaurants, commerce, leisure on culture In particular, it will focus on the Scandinavian countries, where “a strong demand for golf tourism in these source markets” is located, for whom an amateur circuit of six tests will be launched in its main courses.
The other trick of the Madrid government is to turn the capital into a tourist destination for nightlife. In collaboration with the entrepreneurs of the night, it will develop a marketing plan that complements the offer that is already made for events and congresses. The Community ensures that the average cost per night out is around values between 50 and 150 euros, an impact that also falls on transport and hospitality, something that has led the region to promote itself in discos and clubs in Paris, Rome or London.
