Monfragüe National Park will host this international event which will feature 110 exhibitors from 10 different countries
Merida, February 24 (Europe Press) –
Bird tourism continues to grow in Spain, and this weekend Extremadura will celebrate the International Exhibition of Bird Tourism (FIO 2023), which in this 18th edition will break its historic record with a total of 110 exhibitors from 13 autonomous communities and 10 different countries.
The international exhibition will be held in a special edition within the Monfragau National Park in the coming days, which marks its recovery after several editions marked by the pandemic.
It is the “big annual event of nature tourism and bird watching” in Spain, not in vain as it is the oldest in the country and the second most important in Europe in terms of the number of visitors and exhibitors and the quality of its programs.
The guest country on this occasion will be the United Kingdom, a force in bird conservation and a world leader in this sector, and one of the main exporters of bird tourists to Extremadura, as emphasized in the presentation of the event by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sports, Nuria Flores, presenting the event.
FIO 2023 will take place in Villarreal de San Carlos, one of the provinces of Serradilla (Cáceres), where only six people reside, but on the weekend of the fair receive thousands of visitors, who will also find all kinds of activities related to the appointment in the rest of the municipalities that are part of Monfragüe, The biggest advocate of nature tourism in Extremadura.
Attracting the public seeking proposals for nature-related tourism and leisure, the event will bring together leading experts in the world of birds and bird-watching tourism.
A total of 110 exhibitors, 49 from Extremadura itself, 51 from the rest of the country from three autonomous communities and 10 from other countries, bring together tourist destinations, specialized companies, manufacturers of photographic and visual materials, preservation societies and artists.
The exhibition includes a full program of conferences and seminars that will analyze issues such as climate change, the impact of renewable energies on birds, or future challenges facing the sector, all accompanied by various informative and entertaining activities, such as guided tours, conferences and workshops for adults and children, animation shows or book presentations. .
In preparation for this weekend, activities have already been scheduled within the framework of ObservaFIO and ArteFIO, in the towns of Trujillo and Plasencia, respectively.
Photography contest and professional meeting
Among the activities that record the highest amount of expectations each year is the photography competition, which this year received 6,453 images, which is the second largest participation, after the 2020 edition, which increases the amount distributed in prizes, up to 6,300 euros, which the winners won. The announcement will be made on the 25th in an act conducted by meteorologist Roberto Bracero.
Among the other highlights of the FIO are the professional meetings on Saturday 25, which bring together national and international companies with the aim of increasing their business opportunities, a day that, given the quality and quantity of operators, is considered more important than the state.
Specifically, 19 domestic and 12 international buyers were registered, from countries such as the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland and Denmark. Vendors will include FIO models, Club Birding Extremadura members and highly receiving agencies. Thus, more than 500 meetings are expected to take place on Saturday morning.
Tourism specialization.
Specialization is one of the keys to promoting tourism in the region of Extremadura, which remains deeply committed to quality, sustainability, digitalization and professional training, all to increase the number of visitors, overnight stays and average stay with the aim of reaching 8% of its GDP in 2025.
A purpose for which this exhibition is a ‘key piece’, as it is part of the council’s strategy to position Extremadura as an ornithological tourist destination, with a heritage so important that 26% of its surface has been declared a private area. Bird Protection (ZEPA).
All this makes Extremadura a powerhouse in bird tourism, a “sustainable and accessible” sector that can be enjoyed both in the countryside and in the cities thanks to “urban birding”.
The Mayor of Ciradella, Francisco Javier Sánchez Vega,
He emphasized that Extremadura is a “unique” natural destination because it offers the possibility of observing “the best birds in the best ecosystems of the Mediterranean”.
Likewise, he highlighted the Council’s commitment to extending the role of this bird show to the rest of the municipalities around Monfragau, thus benefiting tourism in the entire region.
This is the case of the Garganta del Fraile, a route that has received recognition from the Spanish Federation of Mountain Sports and Climbing at the end of 2022, and which more than 100 people travel every day, during the weekends. Its location is particularly noteworthy as it extends entirely through the listed spaces of the Monfragüe Biosphere Reserve, and even enters the National Park itself.
On the way you can see birds of prey that are difficult to notice in other places, due to the variety and density of specimens, while they are easily accessible. It also includes heritage elements such as medieval bridges or water mills that have supported many local families over time.
