Joan Collins
THE director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, Ignacio Vasallo, said yesterday that, for the first time since 2001, there has been a recovery in the number of British visitors to Spain which he attributed to reasonable prices above all in the Balearics. Vasallo continued, the fall in tourism has stopped and we have captured more of the market. He thinks that this improvement is also due to the fact that the clientele see Spain as a safe and accessible place. Vasallo made these statements during the fair Steps, which is dedicated to the Spanish tourist industry and is being held in London.
This is the sixth edition of this fair, aimed exclusively at professionals and which gives Spanish companies the opportunity to present their products to the British marketing sector, such as travel agents, he said. During the two days of the fair, the Londoners who go to the Royal Horticultural Halls where the exhibition is being held, can see the latest tourist offers from all regions of Spain. Among them are Spanish courses in Castilla and Leon, an itinerary for the Santiago path and holidays on the Costa del Sol.
But it is not only the traditional tour operators who have access to this fair, but also those who do business over the internet.
It is the first time that we have a section set aside to show the internet, where we have put the on-line offers and the requests together, something we have never done before, not even in Spain, said Vasallo who said that this market is growing. A total of 150 exhibitors have gathered for this fair where travel agents, hotels, car rental companies, golf complexes and airlines, amongst others, all had stands.
This fair is not only about sun and sea, but includes a wider spectrum, said the director of the Tourist Office. According to him, the market in developing thanks to the proliferation of the low cost airlines which have diversified the destinations.
Actually, the British tourist travels to the whole of Spain, not just the traditional places, because what they are looking for is a good climate, not just sun and sea he said. However, he acknowledged that 80 percent of British tourists still go for holidays on the coast.
Another of the attractions of the fair are the conferences and seminars on subjects such as cultural tourism, spas, bird watching or grape and wine-growing routes.
BRITISH BALEARIC BOOKING BONANZA
“BRITISH TOURISTS ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD CLIMATE”