Daniel Rosado Bayon says, “We are extremely happy to have an eventful month of activities showcasing all aspects of Spain along with the National Day celebration at the Expo 2020 Dubai. We hope this will create more awareness among the travel trade and travellers about Spain’s varied offerings as a tourist destination.
“We are extremely happy to have an eventful month of activities showcasing all aspects of Spain"
- Daniel Rosado Bayon
“We are hoping to see more numbers to Spain this summer as we have been leading in terms of vaccination and Spain has no restrictions since last June for vaccinated travellers from GCC and unvaccinated travellers can travel with just a PCR, making things much easier and simpler if you wish to travel to Spain.”
On February 3, Turespaña signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group and Minister María Reyes Maroto. The agreement underscores Emirates’ commitment to Spain and outlines joint initiatives to promote trade and tourism to the country. The MoU was signed by Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, International Affairs at Emirates and Director General of Turespaña.
Later that evening, Turespaña brought trade partners from travel, tourism and media together with Spanish destinations (Catalonia, Barcelona, Andalusia and Costa del Sol) for a cultural immersion with flamenco, music and tapas. The event, graced by Minister María Reyes Maroto, was held at Fairmont the Palm and two celebrated chefs were flown in from Spain for a special show cooking and tasting and Spanish beverages were offered to all guests. There also a flamenco performance during the event for guests to have a complete and experience of Spain followed by dinner. The Minister and directors had a brief meeting with C-Suite executives from renowned travel companies and airlines in the UAE.
Andalusia Week, from February 7 to 13 at Expo 2020 Dubai, was a showcase of human progress. Organised by the Regional Government of Andalusia, the week explored the theme of sustainable development and highlighted Andalusia’s unique approach to the future, with the best of its tradition hand in hand with the latest technological innovations.
Partners from Andalusia, comprising hotels and destination management companies met with trade partners and media at ME by Melia Dubai on February 9. This was followed by the celebration of Granada Day at Expo 2020 Dubai on February 14 and Extremadura Day also at the Expo on February 15. Extremadura Day was attended by The Ambassador of Spain, the Minister of Tourism and the President of Extremadura. Tourism was highlighted through fantastic Michelin-starred Alejandro Hernandez Talaván from the Versatil restaurant in Spain, as well as art and culture of the region with a musical show by the famous Vargas Family.
The Spanish Luxury Association, which also carried out a trade mission in mid-February, had the support of the Spain Tourist Office during its visit to the UAE.
Last but not the least, on February 17 Turespaña and Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi inaugurated the ‘Arab Legacy in Spain’ exhibition from February 17 to March 10, 2022.
The ‘Arab Legacy in Spain’ exhibition sheds light on the legendary charm and picturesque beauty of Spain and the impact of Arab heritage on Spanish culture and architecture. The most impressive landmarks in Spain that were influenced by eight centuries of Arab presence make the key highlights of this exhibition.
“We have a lot more in the pipeline this year for trade and travellers alike. Our main focus is towards promoting Spain, not just as a summer getaway but as a year-round destination for all kinds of travellers - as Spain has just what everyone needs. We will also be highlighting all the latest luxury offerings in Spain through various activities and fam trips. We will continue to have workshops and trainings for the travel trade and also competitions for the general public to win an opportunity to visit Spain,” Namratha Rose, Marketing & Trade Relations, Spain Tourism, GCC, concludes.