EL ROCIO 2002
Thousands of people are already preparing to live one of the largest and most impressive romerias or pilgrimages in Spain, held in the hamlet of El Rocio in the province of Huelva. A date where fiesta and religion mix together as only Andalucia knows how. The expected number of pilgrims to attend the romeria is about a million and a half people. Close to the mouth of the Guadalquivir river, the brotherhoods are making their way towards El Rocio coming not only from Andalucía, but also from across Spain in order to praise the virgin known as 'The White Dove'. The pilgrims make their way on foot, horseback, on carts drawn by oxen or on any vehicle that can cope with the terrain, all to the beating sound of the small drum. Once they have arrived the programme organised by the Matriz de Almonte brotherhood takes place, such as the 'Presentation of the Brotherhoods' or the 'Rosario de la Aurora' – the dawn rosary. The climatic moment comes during the early hours of May 20th when the long awaited 'jumping of the rail' takes place. This is the moment when the locals jump over the railing which separates them from the virgin and take her out into the crowd at the start of a procession which will last for more than 14 hours. 3,500 people will make up the security presence this year in the 2002 Romero Plan, which remains in operation until May 23.

ECOLOGICAL TOURISM VISIT IN DOÑANA
The Doñana Nature Park, in Huelva now has a new attraction. It's a place known as 'Veta La Palma', which for the last 18 months has been an example of sustainable development. Proof of this came in the Andalucía Environment Prize which it received in 1997. In this estate in the mudflats next to the Guadalquivir manmade irrigation has recovered the marshlands and developed activities related to the development of water resources, farming and the cultivation of soft cereals. This has achieved a singular habitat for the birds and fauna of Doñana, and a place now open to visitors. The presence of food and the quality of the water makes this estate a year round paradise for aquatic birds. Veta la Palma is therefore a response to Ecological Tourism, in ever greater demand from visitors in search of a closer contact with nature.

ÚBEDA MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL 2002
The Cuban singer Pablo Milanés, Antonio and his dance company, and the Prague puppet theatre are some of the artists who will take part in the 14th 'City of Úbeda' International Music and Dance Festival in Jaén province until June 8. An opportunity to enjoy the best philharmonic orchestras of the world, as well as some of the best flamenco shows. The Santiago de Úbeda hospital will be the stage where the Frankfort Philharmonic Orchestra will give a concert on May 17. On the 24th it will be the turn of the City of Granada Orchestra and on the following day Pablo Milanés will take his show 'Querido Pablo' to the municipal sports pavilion, which will also host the Antonio ballet company and his show 'Torero' on June 7th. A Music Fair will be held as a parallel activity to the Úbeda Music and Dance Festival on the patio of the Casa de las Torres, with a flamenco recital on May 16, and Indian folk group on May 23 and a Jazz evening on June 1.

CONGRESS TOURISM
With close to 2,000 meetings, Andalucía is the autonomous region of Spain to host most congresses in the ambit of tourism, according to the latest data from the Turisport Fair, which was held in the Galician province of Pontevedra. Congress tourism is recovering after suffering the consequences of the events of September 11. On the Costa del Sol the future is bright after spectacular results last season. Last year more than 1,400 congress events were held on the Costa del Sol, generating an income of more than 300 million € a day. In addition to the congress halls in Torremolinos, Marbella and Estepona a new venue is under construction in Málaga. The Costa del Sol also has another 25 centres for conventions, as well as the highest concentration of four and five start hotels on the peninsula.

THE CAZORLA 'CARACOLADA'
One of the most popular fiestas in the province of Jaén is held each May in Cazorla. It's in honour of San Isicio, patron saint of the village, whom all the locals honour in a very special way on May 14th. It's what's known as the 'caracolada'. At night the statue of the saint is taken out in procession through the streets illuminated by candles made in empty snail shells, forming geometric designs of great beauty. The snails are used as oil lamps, a wick is introduced inside and then lit to show the way for San Isicio. The 'Caracolada' is one of the most deeply rooted fiestas in Cazorla, this beautiful village in the interior of Jaén province.

EL EJIDO THEATRE FESTIVAL 2002
At the end of May each year, the village of El Ejido, in Almería, becomes the theatre capital of Andalucía, with the celebration of a theatre festival which this year sees its 25th edition, and which has been declared of National Tourist Interest in Andalucía. The programme sees 24 participating companies from May 18 to June 15 with about 30 different shows. Of these 13 will be free with the idea being to strengthen the street as a place for social interaction and culture. The Catalan group Comediants will open the festival on the 18th with a classic from their repertoire 'Dimonis' – a show which mixes the magic of fire and street theatre with mythical elements. Up to seven international companies will tread the boards in El Ejido with diverse shows, ranging from children's shows to scenic humour, to delight both visitors and locals. The Sara Baras company offers their new show, as part of the festival, on June 3 in the El Ejido municipal sports hall.

DE PUNTA A CABO
More than 40 four wheel drive vehicles from all points of Andalucía have travelled across the inland part of the region from Punta Umbría in Huelva to the Tabernas desert in Almería. It's the 'De Punta a Cabo' rally, an idea from the Tourism and Sports Council of the Junta de Andalucía designed to promote inland tourism in Andalucía. More than 100 participants have covered all the provinces of the region along roads, tracks and paths signed as inland tourism routes. 500 kilometres through all types of places and landscapes across the geography of Andalucía. The Junta de Andalucía hopes that it will be the Andalucian people themselves who get to know the different tourism alternatives which exist in their own land, and that they become the best of hosts at the time to show off this autonomous community.

FLIGHTS LONDON-ALMERIA
From November 3, British Airways will start two weekly morning flights between London and Almería. The flights will be on every Thursday and Sunday and start with a return price of 199 €, excluding taxes. Airbus with a 150 passenger capacity will be used. General director of British Airways, John Paterson, commented that this is the 9th regular flight to be started by the British company to connect the UK with Spanish cities. Almería is the third largest city in Andalucía, after Seville and Málaga, and is now another one connected to the London's Gatwick airport. The objective of this flight is to meet the demand of many British citizens who travel to Almería to enjoy the good climate and many golf courses found there locally. The success of this route could lead British Airways to start a third weekly flight from March 2003.