TOURISM BALANCE SUMMER 2001 AS OF SEPTEMBER 12
Andalucía welcomed more than five million tourists in the months of July and August, which represents an increase of 11% over the same period last year. In addition the sector generated an income of more than 400,000 million pesetas, making tourist the main source of income for Andalucía for yet another year. These are official figures from the Tourism Council, and of which an increase in the number of Spanish visitors is of note, as well as the consolidation of apartments and own property being the type of accommodation preferred. The good climate and the quality of the beaches are the main factors which attract tourists to Andalucía. The care and attention they receive during their stay are also valued items for the visitors who decide to spend their holidays in these lands.

ESTEPONA SCI FI AND TERROR CINEMA
Prepare yourself for one of the most terrifying cultural dates of the Málaga calendar. The Second International Sci Fi and Terror Film Week, which is being held in Estepona between October 1 & 7, brings us, for another year, films to delight lovers of this type of cinematography. As part of the official section, productions such as ‘School Killer’ or ‘Simon Magus’ will get their previews and compete, among others, for the Golden Unicorn for the best film, the Silver for the best script and direction. In addition the departments of Culture and Youth will homage the director and producer Roger Corman, and so a special section has been set up to show his most significant works such as ‘Pit and the Pendulum’, ‘Tales of Terror’or ‘The Wild Angels’ As a parallel event to the film week, the public an enjoy a display of costumes and objects from the films ‘The planet of the apes’ 1968 and 2001 versions at the Estepona Congress and Exhibition Hall.

EXPOTURAL
One of the routes which those who have been to the Casa de Campo pavilion in Madrid have been able to discover is that of the Renaissance, centred on the towns of Úbeda and Baeza in Jaén province. The event is promoted by CENTIA - the Inland Andalucian Tourism Centre. Nature and adventure sports have also taken centre stage in Expotural, which has showed the visitors the possibilities of carrying out unconventional trips or practising extreme sports. Riding in a hot air balloon, driving a 4 wheel drive, managing a squad, or learning survival techniques are some of the activities offered by this fair. In fact Andalucía is an ideal region for the practice of this type of sport, allowing us at the same time to discover the beautiful routes of inland Andaucía.

SEVILLE WORLD FLAMENCO FAIR
Artists of the calibre of Matilde Coral, Pepe de Lucía or El Brujo, are taking part in the World Flamenco Fair being held in the Seville Congress and Exhibitions Hall between October 4 & 7. The fair intends to complement and give continuity to the other Bienal Flamenco event, as well as making the city of the Guadalquivir inescapable as a commercial venue for this art. A hall of more than 7,000 square metres will host the more 100 exhibitors across four theme patios, where the visitor can find everything that surrounds the world of flamenco. From accessories and flamenco fashion, to stands from record companies, associations and brotherhoods. Every night a different show will be held which will bring together the great figures from the worlds of song, dance and guitar in front of an exceptional audience with representatives from companies from Japan, United States, Canada and Europe.

CABRA RURAL TOURISM FAIR
One of the characteristics of rural accommodation is the more personal service and attention given to the client. It’s something that many visitors consider when they choose their holidays. One way of getting to know what is available has been the meeting of rural promoters held in the Córdoba town of Cabra. Some 400 promoters and foreign observers took part, with the businessmen exchanging experiences about the new demands and needs of rural tourism. Accommodation is a key piece in this business. It increases the rural income and generates more employment and supports the local handcrafts and cuisine. Activities which also contribute to sustainable development in the zone.

GRANADA 2010
The Sierra Nevada ski station in Granada aspires to be the venue for the Winter Olympic Games in 2010. The document presented on September 17 to the Spanish Olympic Committee highlights games which respect the environment, with an Olympic village situated some 30kms from the ski slopes. Sports installations of the highest quality, such as the planned Ice rink, which will also be used for the Winter Para-Olympic games. The Granada 2010 proposal comes supported by the organisational success shown during the holding of the World Alpine Ski Championships held in the Sierra Nevada in 1996. For its part Málaga province will offer its international airport and other infrastructures to the event.

SPANISH PAINTING - SEVILLE ALCAZAR
The Seville Alcazar holds one of the most interesting exhibitions to be seen in the city currently. It’s a complete collection of Spanish painting from the 16th and 17th centuries from the Forum Philatelic Foundation, made up of 33 paintings from artists such as Zurbarán, Alonso Cano or Ribera. But the main attraction of the show comes, without doubt, from two canvases - An ‘Inmaculada’ from the Seville painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo and ‘Bodegón con cesta doble de fruta’ by Juan Van de Hamen, A Spanish painter of Flemish descent. The theme of the works on show centres on religious motifs and still life. Other paintings of note in the exhibition are ‘San José con el niño - also by Murillo, ‘Entierro de Santa Catalina’ by Zurbarán ‘Santa Teresa de Jesús’ by José de Ribera, El Españoleto and two small canvases from Alonso Cano, a Granada painter who this year celebrates the 4th centenary of his birth. The exhibition remains open in the Apeadero Salón of the Sevilla Alcázar until October 14.

ALMODOVAR FILMING IN CORDOBA
The Córdoba Mosque-Cathedral is one of the scenes chosen for the filming of the latest film from director Pedro Almodóvar ‘Hablé con ella’ which is planed to be on general release next march. In this scene the stars of the film, Rosario Flores and the Argentinian Dario Grandinetti, come along the street in a car and go into a hotel located opposite the eastern wall of the mosque. The film crew is made up of 60 people who have shot another scene in the Santuario de la Virgen de Araceli - in the Córdoba town of Lucena in which some 80 extras took part. Here a wedding between two other actors in the film was shot. Pedro Almodóvar, winner of an Oscar for the best non-English film for ‘All About My Mother’, has now returned to Madrid to complete the filming of his latest work.

SAN MIGUEL ROMERIA 2001
The town of Torremolinos, in Málaga, has for another year, lived its traditional San Miguel Romeria pilgrimage, the forerunner to the fair which fills the Costa del Sol town with colour and fun at the end of September. A tradition which was attended this time round by close to 200,000 people. Horsemen and dressed up mounts make up the romeria tradition, carriages decorated with ribbons and flowers and old carts pulled by oxen - also dressed up for the occasion. All this, in an atmosphere of happiness and fervour in honour of San Miguel. There’s also a carriage competition with prizes for the happiest and best decorated. That’s what a romeria is like - A deeply rooted popular event which each year unites thousands of people on the streets of Torremolinos, singing and dancing without rest.