The Department of Tourism participated in the 6th Turespaña Convention, held in Zaragoza, where it conducted working meetings with the Spanish Tourism Offices in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the Nordic countries to prepare for promotional activities in 2027.
Councilor for Tourism Marco Bittner, accompanied by a tourism specialist, represented Calp at this event—held from October 20 to 22 at the Zaragoza Conference Centre—which brought together over 500 professionals from public administrations, destinations, and private companies. It serves as the primary coordination forum between Turespaña and the Spanish tourism sector.
On the first day, Calp took part in "speed-dating" style professional meetings with the network of Spanish Tourism Offices (OET) located abroad. The delegation from Calp met with offices in Berlin, Munich, Paris, The Hague, Brussels, and Stockholm to define potential collaborations and plan Calp’s participation in the 2027 trade fair calendar.
Options currently under consideration include the Matka fair in Helsinki (January), the f.re.e fair in Munich (February)—which focuses on active tourism—and the "Pure Spain" event in Paris (November 2027). Other possibilities include professional workshops in Sweden and Denmark, as well as meetings with French travel agents.
During these discussions, Calp advocated for a model rooted in authenticity, gastronomy, and off-season cultural tourism, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. These markets are among the primary sources of visitors for the destination and continue to show growth. In 2025, tourism spending in Spain by visitors from the Netherlands increased by 9.2%, while spending by visitors from the Nordic countries rose by 6.4%. “We want those who are already familiar with Calp to discover a different side of it—its gastronomy, its deep-rooted culture, and its natural surroundings—beyond just the summer season. And we want to achieve this sustainably and in balance with our local residents,” noted Bittner.
This approach aligns with Turespaña’s new 2026–2028 Framework Action Plan, which was unveiled during the convention. The plan includes two specific programs—(Re)Discover Spain and Spain Trusted Destination—tailored for established Mediterranean coastal destinations like Calp. The goal is to bolster their reputation, increase average visitor spending, and attract tourists during the mid and low seasons. Turespaña’s annual plans will be open to proposals from destinations and businesses, and Calp intends to submit its own.
During the convention, the councilor also had the opportunity to speak with the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu. He highlighted the realities faced by tourist-oriented municipalities, specifically the issue of underfunding and the discrepancy between the registered population and the transient (floating) population that the town must cater to throughout the year.
The work initiated in Zaragoza will continue in November at the World Travel Market in London—one of the world’s premier tourism trade shows—where Calp will further strengthen its standing in international markets, with a particular focus on the British market.
