ITTN’s Allie Sheehan and Emer Roche arrived at the 2024 FITUR conference yesterday. Spain’s most important travel trade fair took place under blue skies and (relatively) balmy weather at IFEMA Madrid. Renowned as the top convention centre in Europe, the conference spans an impressive 50 acres of space.
While interested in all trends affecting the travel sector, one message was crystal clear. Spain is paving the way for sustainable travel. The country was recently named ‘Best Sustainable Destination in 2024’ by The Lonely Planet. In an interview with Rosana Morillo, Spain’s Deputy Tourism Minister she acknowledged the award and ongoing efforts throughout Spain to adapt to greener policies, creating more jobs in the industry and create a circular economy. She said ”We are delighted to see that travellers recognise our efforts in promoting the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of tourism”.
Another aspect Ms Morillo was keen to emphasise to travellers with Spain in their sights this year, is to consider exploring other parts of the country. She said Spain has so much to offer in terms of art, culture, gastronomy and beauty when holiday-makers go off the beaten track. With 300 flights from Ireland to 22 gateways this couldn’t be easier, especially as Spain’s high-speed AVE trains operate on the longest high-speed network in Europe, so access to further flung parts of the country couldn’t be easier!
Echoing Ms Morillo’s sentiments later in the afternoon was Matthias Werner, Marketing Executive with Costa del Sol Tourist Board. Allie and Emer had a warm chat with Matthias after a record-breaking busy day for Costa del Sol at FITUR. They were told the wonderful news that there were more passengers arriving in Malaga in 2023 than in 2019. Looking ahead, he would like to continue to see people holiday at the beach towns of Malaga City, Marbella and Torremolinos. According to intelligence from airlines, Malaga is already at 95% of bookings for summer 2024. Matthias would like to see visitors also find joy in the hinterlands in one of the 103 other small villages and towns such as Manilva and Estepona- and fear not, Matthias is quick to assure holidaymakers who adore the quintessentially Spanish experience of sun, sea and tapas, all of this is just as bountiful in the smaller villages!
