ANDALUCIA TOURISM NEWS – OCTOBER 10TH 2002

SUMMER TOURISM RESULTS IN ANDALUCÍA
The number of tourists who visited Andalucía last summer increased by nearly 2% compared to 2001, with a total of five million visitors and an income which rose to nearly 3,000 million €. According to the figures, published by the regional tourism board, average hotel occupancy was 70% and the average spend per tourist was 40 €. With respect to where the tourists came from, around 40% of them were foreigners. The numbers of tourists to stay in hotel establishments has increased by 7%. Looking forward to the forecasts for growth in the sector, the tourism board said it was sure that the months of September and October would also see that growth continue, thanks to the value of hotels in Andalucía.

MIJAS HORSE RACE TRACK AUTUMN SEASON 2002
Lovers of horseracing can once again enjoy the events at the track at Mijas on the Costa del Sol, as the Autumn season has already begun. Sunday October 6 saw the first horse race of this new season which continues until the 20th of the month. In November races will be held on the 3rd and 17th and in December on the 1st and 15th, always from 1030am. The Mijas horse race track has some splendid facilities which are part of the many leisure facilities to be found at the heart of the Costa del Sol, between the airport and Marbella. Every weekend a crowd of horse lovers, many of them foreigners, meet at the track, where they have the chance to contemplate the best horses from different stables from across Europe.

WORLD FLAMENCO FAIR, 2002
The second World Flamenco Fair, held in the Seville exhibition and congress hall, has over recent days seen the visit of more than 15,000 people, as well as 2,000 professional buyers. The fair, organised by Fibes, in collaboration with the Flamenco Bienal, has in just two years found its own place in the flamenco world, and has consolidated itself as a meeting and reference point for professionals, artists, journalists and fans of this art. Importers of items related to flamenco, such as instruments, fashion or accessories also took part in the event, coming from countries such as Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, the United States and Canada. Professionals from SE Asian countries were also invited to the fair as well as 40 tour operators and travel agents. Among the artists to have visited this World Flamenco Fair, we find figures as outstanding as José Menese, who delighted the public with his song, or Maria del Mar Berlanga with her spectacular castanet playing.

FLAMENCO AS PART OF TOURISM
Making flamenco into a business and selling it as a specific tourist attraction of Andalucía… That's the objective of the first Bolsa Internacional de Turismo de Flamenco, which has taken place in Seville, and which, given the interest generated, will now become an annual event. Business activity was intense in the framework of a meeting where those who supply and those who need can meet. Proof of the success is that around 100 buyers from 17 countries came to Seville to find out what was of offer from some 70 businessmen in the Andalucian tourism sector. An offer which has flamenco as its main feature. To promote this a new Flamenco Guide has been made, and some 10,000 copies published together with offering Internet access. This first international flamenco trade fair coincided also with the Flamenco Bienal and the World Flamenco Fair which was held in the Andalucian capital until October 6.

JAEN TAPA FAIR 2002
More than 200,000 people enjoyed the 4th edition of the Tapa Fair which was held in Jaén between October 3 and 6th. Exquisite gastronomy is one of the tastiest characteristics of Andalucía, and tapas in particular, these small portions, now form a firm part of the Andalucian culinary culture. This year the fair grew to 20 exhibitors from bars and restaurants from the province, who delighted locals and visitors with more than 100 typical examples from the province of Jaén. In addition to the exhibitors, a display was set up on the Paseo de las Bicicletas where Jaén businessmen interested in taking part could sell their products directly to the visitors. This project was sponsored by the city hall, the provincial government and the Jaén Tourism Board who, together with businessmen from the restaurant sector in the province have shown the best of Jaén cuisine.

ARACENA HAM FAIR
Among the star products of Andalucian gastronomy, we find those which come from the Iberian Pig. And of them, ham is one of the most appreciated by those with demanding palates, Although we can find this product in all of the Andalucian provinces, it is the province of Huelva where the Iberian pigs produce the tastiest hams of the world, in places such as Villanueva de Córdoba, which on October 12th saw the day in honour of Jamón Ibérico de Bellota. For those who did not have the chance to attend, you have another chance between October 17 and 20th in Aracena, a locality in the heart of the nature park of the same name, inland in Huelva province. Here the regional ham and Iberian pig fair is held each year. The fair is held in the Aracena stockbreeders exhibition ground, where we can enjoy the products which come from the killing of the Iberian pig. The 17th and 18th of October also sees the second professional meeting for Iberian ham, destined at companies in the meat sector. The fair is completed with a ham cutting competition held on Sunday October 20th.

TOURISM GALA IN ALMERÍA
The City of Almería has over recent days shown us all that is on offer in the province. The third edition of the Almería Tourism Gala, has offered the best in handicrafts, gastronomy, tourist accommodation, travel, routes, rural and sports tourism, as well as the splendid offers for the sun and beach in this part of Andalucía. The objective of the meeting, held in the Parque de las Almadrabillas, has been to strengthen a key sector in the economic development of the province and is seen as crucial in the promotion of the image of Almería. The gala, organised by the tourism board and the provincial and city councils, has promoted one of the most typical examples of the gastronomy of the province – the tapas, with the celebration of a tapa fair. To sum up, a clear effort to promote the province and all its attractions, in a gala which delighted the thousands of people who had the chance to enjoy this wide display of the culture, cuisine, folklore and landscape of Almería.

GUIDED VISITS TO PROTECTED SPACES
The environment council has started a programme of guided visits to the Protected Natural Spaces in Andalucía, which coincides with the designation of the year 2002 as the International Year for Ecological Tourism. The plan has been presented by the regional councillor for the environment, Fuensanta Coves, in the Visitors Centre at the Sierra de Aracena Nature Park, in the province of Huelva. With this initiative, a network of welcoming teams, integrated into more than 800 facilities where the programme will take place is being consolidated. The plan is to promote the natural Andalucian heritage as well as a responsible attitude from citizens towards the environment. The programme establishes activities, among others, such as trekking, environmental workshops and the training of monitors for the start of each route, each once destined to show us the beautiful natural diversity of Andalucía. As a parallel activity, the visitors centres will hold other activities on the local lifestyle, villages and their history.