Málaga to host the 3rd International Cultural Tourism Fair

From 21 to 24 September, the Málaga Exhibition and Conference Hall will be the seat of the 3rd International Cultural Tourism Fair.

This year, the trade show’s programme features a wide range of parallel activities to discuss and analyze this segment, which is gaining importance in the travel industry by the day.

Through its International Marketing Department, the Costa del Sol Tourist Board will be present at the Turismo Andaluz stand, and it will attend the workshop with international tour operators specialising in cultural tourism that have been invited by Turespaña.

As in previous editions, the Tourist Board was part of the Organising Committee, in charge of the special programme for international media and tour operators, who will have the chance to visit Málaga and get to know the province in depth. At the weekend, after the rofessional meetings, international visitors can take advantage of post tours round Andalusia.

At the welcome dinner, which is traditionally held on the day the Fair is officially inaugurated and attended by every institution present, “La Málaga de Picasso” (“Picasso’s Málaga”) will be introduced to all tour operators, media representatives, local authorities and travel professionals from the province.

A special section will be dedicated to cultural tourism meetings, organised by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and the Spanish Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism (AECIT). This section includes two lectures and a round table with AECIT members, university scholars and travel professionals discussing “Cultural Tourism in Spain: New Products, New Markets”.

In addition, the Network for Heritage, Tourism and Sustainable Development (IBERTUR), comprised of heritage management professionals, has organised a meeting for the exchange of knowledge and experience and for technical cooperation, leading to the statement of common work guidelines.

One of IBERTUR’s initiatives, the Network for Archaeological Tourism (ARQUEOTUR), will be present at the fair, publicising the archaeological heritage among professional visitors and the general public.

Parallel activities include meetings of AECIT’s Board and the European Academy of Tourism, the presentation of the “Revista Andaluza de Patrimonio Histórico” special issue on cultural routes, and the introduction of European Academy of Tourism by its President, Claude Origet.

The fair will have a special section for especially charming, cultural and boutique hotels, showing the facilities that stand out for their peculiar characteristics and commercialising these products with the attending public.

Travel agencies will also have a special area to sell their cultural holiday packages to those who would like to merge relax with learning. Indeed, both the hotels and the travel agencies present at the fair will present visitors buying their trips or making reservations with special offers.

International stands include those of Mexico, China and the Dominican Republic.
As for Spanish routes, there will be representatives of Grupo de Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad (World Heritage Cities), Red de Juderías – Caminos de Sefarad (Network of Jewish Quarters in Spanish Cities), Ruta Vía de la Plata (Spanish Silver Route), Ruta Bética Romana (Route of Roman Andalusia), and Fundación Camino de la Lengua Castellana (Foundation for the Route of the Spanish Language), among others.

Source:
Costa del Sol Tourist Board