One more year, Albacete wanted to be present in the II International Tourism Fair world’s largest, sharing space with the other provinces in the region about 3,000 square meters that make up the stand of Castilla-La Mancha FITUR, located in Hall 7 of the Instituto Ferial de Madrid.

The space reserved for the province of Albacete has two blades of the sculptures, local artists, who make up the exhibition planned for this year to celebrate the third centenary of the confirmation of our fair, and with a drum Hellín and beautiful images of the most emblematic of our province. As it could be otherwise, the backpacker and the mascot for the city, albite, have also traveled to FITUR to show all of our tourist attractions to visitors.

Centennial III

On the second day of FITUR, the turn came to Albacete in the stand of the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha. As expected, the third centenary of the confirmation of our Fair became the great protagonist, being present in all the talk of local and regional authorities.

Taking advantage of the large display is FITUR tourism, the mayor of Albacete, Carmen Oliver, officially presented the poster for the 2010 Fair, in order to project internationally the image of our city. Prior, was screened on audiovisual “A Fair Day” held by the Association of Photographers of Albacete.

To mark the third centenary, coinciding with the Day of Albacete in FITUR, the mayor signed a framework agreement with the minister of Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts, Soledad Herrero, which reflects the regional government’s commitment to hold this ephemeris.

Among the projects to be carried out during 2010, Soledad Herrero ahead a great sound and light show and an exhibition on the history of Albacete. In addition, the city will host the XIV Regional Fair Theatre. “A week dedicated to the best avant-garde theater of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain and Europe,” added the minister.

In addition, the Mayor of Albacete announced that March 6 will be held at the Teatro Circo de la capital a memorial in which the 87 villages in the province of Albacete will feature prominently.

Albacete is projected FITUR

The Mayor of Albacete FITUR presented in the latest developments in tourism. On the one hand, the new municipal Internet portal, www.albaceteturístico.es, which also can be accessed from the website of the consistory, www.albacete.es. Carmen Oliver stressed that “it is a tool that combines new technologies with the tourist, cultural, leisure, services and the city itself, so that we can learn from anywhere in the world with a click of your computer.”

On the day of Albacete also presented a cultural tour guide, which includes different routes: the red, green and orange to indicate the monuments, sculptures and museums, respectively, of the capital. As pointed out by Councilman Sustainability, Economic Development and Environment of the municipality in Albacete, Ramon Sotos, in Albacete, we have 80 monuments, 50 sculptures and over 40 exhibition halls and museums.

A great showcase for tourism in the province of Albacete

On the Day of FITUR Albacete, Albacete consistory addition, are highlighted other municipalities in the province. The president of the Delegation, Pedro Antonio Ruiz Santos explained that this year he has had to turn Almansa and Hellin.

Thus, Almansa City Council presented the second edition of its International Music Festival, which takes place from 5 to 15 July, while the Hellín promoted the XXV anniversary of the National Conference of Exaltation of the Drum, which are expected to participate 27 municipalities in Spain and more than 70,000 people.

On Saturday, day 23, the City Council Ossa de Montiel and Tourism Association of the Sierra del Segura present their holidays.

Santos Ruiz stressed how important it is for the County to participate in the hand FITUR regional government, “linking financial resources to assist municipalities in Castilla-La Mancha.” In this regard it is noteworthy that half the budget for this show comes from the five councils in the region and the other half of the Board. In the case of Albacete, the County Council this year has increased by 30,000 euros its contribution in the signed agreement, as every year, with the regional government, reaching the 137,000 euros.

FITUR formula will be extended to three other tourism fairs to be held in Spain, such as SITC, Barcelona, INTUR in Valladolid and TCV in Valencia.

Extreme Quixote

In regard to the Provincial Association of Tourism and Hotel Albacete, its president, Juan Sanchez, put in value two new tourism products. On the one hand, a new tourism website to promote tourism establishments in the province and on the other, the sporting event “Quixote Extreme” to be held in late August, early September for a week, in six stages from the capital and along the Sierra del Segura. “An initiative that has ever made in Spain to hopefully increase tourism in the Sierra,” he added.

Juan Sanchez referred to the complicated situation that has crossed the tourism and hospitality sector over the past year as a result of the crisis, noting that “in difficult times is when you have to continue such activities to come out stronger.” The projections for 2010 show a “complex reality”, however the hotel and tourism business in our province see the future with a prism of optimism.

“20 breaks legend

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts, Soledad Herrero, presented on the Day of Albacete in FITUR one of the new tourism products of the Board as is the guide “20 breaks legend.” As explained, with the help of comics, visitors can experience a score of tourist sites in Castilla-La Mancha, where legends have been formed throughout history.

Thus, the guide can find different routes in the province of Albacete, such as “The spell of Ruidera,” “The Enchanted Castle Villarrobledo Munera,” “The Cave of the deckhouse in Hellín” and the story of “Stone Abengibre delighted” or “The legend of the bandit El Pernales.”

A guide which are those municipalities in Castilla-La Mancha which were not covered in other tourism products, with the aim to enrich the tourist offer in the region and attract the largest possible number of visitors.

Infrastructure to boost tourism

On the day dedicated to Albacete in FITUR, Councilor Planning and Housing, Julian Sanchez Pingarrón highlighted the importance of infrastructure to boost internal tourism and other economic activities. In this sense, the recent opening of three new sections of the A-43 that bind Albacete, Toledo, Ciudad Real and Puertollano, as well as 219 km are being strengthened in our province. In addition, 2010 will be tendered Júcar Highway, which joins Albacete and Cuenca.

The arrival of the AVE to Albacete in 2010 will, in his opinion, a before and after for the city, from the standpoint of tourism, but also business and trade.