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The tourism recovery fair and the desire to travel like never before is here.

From today until next Sunday, Fitur 2023 travels the planet hunting and capturing the best plans for a getaway.

In this review we are left with the closest ones, those whose protagonist is Spain on all four sides.

SPAIN FROM NORTH TO SOUTH

The International Tourism Fair is a tour of the world in general and Spain in particular, since every corner is represented in the largest exhibition space at Ifema,

dedicated to our country,

whether through official bodies, autonomous communities, town halls, private companies. The purpose of all of them is to continue consolidating the good figures for national tourism in 2022, "the year of recovery", according to the words of Miguel Sanz, director of

Turespaña

.

"We will once again have around 85% of the visitors and 94% of the spending of 2019, with a higher quality tourism, more seasonally adjusted and that will invest more". For all this, Sanz affirms that this

43rd edition of Fitur

It is presented in a "more modern and adapted to the needs of the sector".

The expert predicts a "positive" 2023 in terms of the

number of visitors

arriving in Spain.

In addition, he believes that "the growth of the Asian market and the total normalization of the rest will be consolidated. We already have the example of America, whose increase in 2022 has been spectacular."

Asturian cooking workshop in Fitur.I.

GARCIA

COMMITMENT TO THE RURAL

The national traveler will travel abroad, yes, but they will also continue to bet on rediscovering corners of our country, as well as on rural tourism, a sector that was key during the pandemic due to its leisure possibilities in the open air, in the middle of nature and far from the crowds.

Hence, the towns of communities such as

Andalusia, Extremadura, Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia or both Castillas

will continue to be a great object of desire.

This does not prevent big cities like Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia or Bilbao from attracting all eyes with their

cultural, artistic, gastronomic and nightlife offer.

incessant.

Nor will the islands fail, both the Balearic and the Canary Islands, which hope to break all their records.

A clue: the first ones will tell why they aspire to become

the first circular destination on the planet

.

The second ones show the most varied proposals: sun, beach, gastronomy, nature, culture, theme centers such as Loro Parque...

Galicia's commitment to the fair.I.

GARCIA

THE COLOR OF ANDALUSIA

We begin the tour of the Spanish territory in

Andalusia,

whose stand (pavilion 5) is the largest at the fair, with 5,300 square meters, of which each province has 300. Not surprisingly, countless regions, cities, towns and corners -from

Almería to Jaén, Huelva or Seville,

passing through Torremolinos, Nerja, Marbella or Alcalá la Real: they all have a place- they organize

original activities

during the fair to publicize their attractions, either through gastronomic tastings, tastings of wine, live dance or 3D experiences.

The stand, intelligent in nature by informing in real time of all its activities, also has several spaces for

innovation, technology,

coworking

,

the youth and the senior generation.

Without forgetting its area dedicated to crafts or cinema, children's workshops, the gymkhana in which all visitors can participate and a gallery of colors.

For something, the motto of Andalusia this year is none other than

Todo es de color

.

A hostess from Andalusia, yesterday at Ifema.ANDALUCIA.ORG

LEBANIEGO JUBILEE YEAR

Anyone who wants to know everything about the Lebaniego Jubilee Year should go to the Cantabria stand, which will simulate the path that guides pilgrims to the monastery of

Santo Toribio de Liébana

to reach the

Lignum Crucis,

the largest piece of the cross of Christ.

In this way, visitors will be able to feel like pilgrims for a day and follow the path through a screen-printed map (which invites them to go through

the different stages

following points of light) and six large synchronized vertical screens that will show natural and cultural sites on this

route .

World Heritage

.

The Cantabrian space will also be presided over by the logo of the Jubilee Year Cross suspended in three dimensions and deconstructed through a game of volumes and pieces that will create a visual experience.

Added to this first call for attention is the recreation of the Camino Lebaniego and a small museum dedicated to the

Blessed of Liébana,

which is accessed through a hologram of

the Puerta del Perdón.

Not surprisingly, everything is ready for it to officially open on April 16 in Santo Toribio.

For this reason, Cantabria will unveil at the fair all the events scheduled to celebrate its great year.

From concerts to opening events, more than 30 sports events,

unprecedented exhibitions, audiovisual productions

, actions for the conservation of tangible and intangible heritage and congresses and conferences.

Pilgrims on the Camino Lebaniego. TOURISM OF CANTABRIA

LUMINOUS VALENCIA

From its 2,000 square meters of stand and with

more than 500 co-exhibitors,

the Valencian Community intends to transmit to the attendees all the light of the Mediterranean, which will be transformed following three moments of the day: sunrise, noon and sunset.

In this way, the different spaces will change tonality to transport visitors to Valencia through

seven four-meter-high screens

and a 360-degree immersive space in which images and aromas of various destinations will be projected.

From Benidorm to Sierra Mariola, Morella

, Peñíscola, the Albufera or the City of Arts and Sciences.

The light of the center of Valencia.SHUTTERSTOCK

BASQUE COUNTRY, CYCLING DESTINATION

The Tour de France will start on July 1 in the Basque Country, which has prepared

a program of activities

,

Le Grand Depart

, for the two days and the three stages of the event in the region.

In Bilbao, a circular route of 185 kilometers begins that will link the Cantabrian coast and the Urdaibia Biosphere Reserve, crossing places such as

Gernika-Lumo.

The peloton will have to overcome the scoring levels of Laukiz, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Morga, Vivero and Pike Bidea, being the most mountainous course of the initial day of the tour.

The second stage will leave Vitoria-Gasteiz

and it will finish in Donostia/San Sebastián after 210 kilometers that will alternate the heights of Udana, Aztiria and Alkiza to face Jaizkibel.

This will be faced from the opposite side to the usual in the San Sebastián Clásica.

Almost 25 kilometers will travel through Goierri, a region of 18 villages between the

Aralar Natural Park

and the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park.

The last stage will begin in Amorebieta-Etxano and will end in Baiona after reaching the heights of Trabakua,

Milloi, Itziar and Benta.

In total, 80 kilometers through the coastal enclaves of Zarautz or Irún, among others.

Cycling route in the Basque Country. TOURISM P. VASCO

EXTREMADURA, INNER PARADISE

We continue our journey through the Spanish pavilions in Extremadura, whose trademark is clear: we are in an "inner paradise".

To demonstrate this, its stand offers two differentiated areas: one dedicated to gastroexperiences and another to stargazing

,

since the community has one of the skies with the least light pollution in the world.

In this last area, "

the Monfragüe gypsy jump

and a luminescent path will be recreated together with a simulation of the Tagus River and a moving pool of water," says the Minister of Tourism, Nuria Flores.

There will also be room to promote

family tourism,

film sets or series such as Game of Thrones or urban activities in Cáceres, Badajoz, Mérida, Plasencia, Trujillo or Zafra.

Extremadura in its obligatory appointment in Fitur.IFEMA

BETWEEN THE TWO CASTILES

We finish the route in

Castilla-La Mancha,

which focuses its attention on its role as a film set.

What's more, the stand itself will be transformed into its "

particular Broadway,

with a walk of the stars where the work of 35 people from the world of tourism is highlighted, who work every day to place the region at the top," he says. the Minister of Economy, Business and Employment, Patricia Franco.

On the other hand,

Castilla y León

delves into the cultural, heritage, nature and gourmet offer of its nine provinces.

Without forgetting

sports, experiential and fluvial tourism.

For this reason, it invites you to discover the starry skies of Ávila, the Camino del Cid de Burgos, the Passion of Salamanca, the future Center for the Aqueduct and the Water Culture of Segovia,

the sustainable face of Valladolid,

the outdoor activities of Soria , the alternatives of Zamora or the landscapes of León and Palencia.

The colorful space of Castilla-La Mancha.

PRACTICAL GUIDE

1. WHERE

In eight pavilions (from 3 to 10) of the Ifema fairgrounds.

Address: Avenida del Partenón, 5, Madrid.

Telephone: 902 221 515. Nearest metro stop: Ifema Madrid.

Buses: lines 73, 112 and 122.

2. WHEN

From January 18 to 22.

Professionals (Wednesday to Friday) and general public (Saturday and Sunday).

3. TIMETABLE

From January 18 to 20 (from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.).

January 21 (from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.).

January 22 (from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.).

4. TICKET PRICE

One-day professional pass: 20 euros.

Permanent: 40 euros.

General public admission (only Saturday and Sunday): 12 euros.

Free access for children under 10 years of age accompanied by an adult (it is mandatory to purchase a ticket) and people with disabilities to a degree equal to or greater than 33%.

5. MORE INFORMATION

The agenda of presentations and congresses, as well as the activities of the weekend (tastings, magic exhibitions, cooking workshops, children's games, shows, dances, raffles, 3D simulators, concerts, gymkhanas...) can be found at the Ifema website: www.ifema.es/fitur

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