Direct promotional initiatives
31 travel agents and 7 international journalists visit the Girona area on theme-based familiarisation trips
MARCH 2014
In November the Patronat de Turisme organised two press trips to the destination for journalists from Russia and Canada who expressed an interest in discovering the city of Girona and the local culture. The visit by a Canadian journalist from the Toronto Star newspaper focused on discovering the destination through visits to coastal and inland mediaeval towns, the Dalí Theatre-Museum, Girona's old quarter and the volcanic area of La Garrotxa. Meanwhile, the Russian journalists concentrated exclusively on discovering the city of Girona from various perspectives: culture, gastronomy, shopping and nightlife.
Furthermore, on the occasion of the EIBTM, Europe's leading conferences, meetings and incentives fair, which took place in Barcelona from 26th to 29th November, the Girona Convention Bureau took part in organising two familiarisation trips to the Costa Brava for travel agencies specialised in conference organisation from Israel (Kenes Group) and several European countries. In total, 19 agents visited the area to see at first hand the specific tourism offering of Girona, Lloret de Mar, Platja d'Aro and Roses, and at the same time discover the tourist attractions of the destination. Prior to this, a familiarisation trip to the Costa Brava was organised for six professionals from Argentinian and Chilean travel agencies specialised in incentive trips to the area.
Lastly, in early November, a group of six Chinese wholesale travel agents visited Girona and the Costa Brava on a general trip aimed at discovering the destination.
One of the month's highlights was the presentation of the tourism offering of the Costa Brava destination made by the Patronat de Turisme on 28th November in Osnabrück, Germany, at the invitation of the German tour operator Dertour on the occasion of the presentation of its new 2013 sales catalogue, SommerKatalog 2013. The event was attended by 45 German travel agencies.
The new catalogue markets holidays, golf and tourist apartments to individuals, families and seniors. It covers the Costa Brava from north to south, focusing in particular on the following tourist destinations in the Girona area: Roses, Empuriabrava, Tamariu, Calella de Palafrugell, Platja d’Aro, S’Agaró, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Santa Cristina d’Aro, Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar and Blanes.
Representatives of the German tour operator Dertour had previously visited the Costa Brava on a familiarisation trip at the invitation of the Patronat de Turisme to discover new products and destinations. The company stated that its sales of Costa Brava holiday products had increased by 28% in respect of the previous year. This growth was mainly due to the increase in bookings and sales to groups of students, seniors and sports enthusiasts. The tour operator highlighted the growing interest of German customers in products such as culture, MICE and events.
