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Selling Spain!
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India and Spain are made for each other in tourism, says Enrique Ruiz de Lera, Tourism Counsellor, Embassy of Spain
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Picture Perfect Sites like this are awaiting discovery in Spain
“I personally consider India the most important emerging market,” asserts Enrique Ruiz de Lera, Tourism Counsellor, Embassy of Spain, and Director of National Tourist Office of Spain for India etc. A frequent traveller to India, he was in the Capital recently to announce the opening of the first Spain Tourism Board office in Mumbai. In the last ten years, Spain has been closing its offices in Europe and opening them in Asia. “The world GDP is shifting, we have to adhere to that,” says Lera.
Not mass
With tourists outnumbering its citizens, Spain is not looking for mass tourism. Instead, the concentration is on seasoned and experienced travellers. With Indian tourists having different requirements from European tourists, Spain is all set to woo the Indian traveller. Indians tend to travel more with family. They favour theme parks. And often prefer shopping to cultural outings. They like nature in small and compact packages. Lera says that Spain is adapting their offers to suit these Indian requirements. The outbound and inbound number of travellers between Spain and India number approximately 55,000. Travellers from Spain to India, and from India to Spain tend to be high-end travellers.
Lera believes that India is more relevant than China when it comes to tourism in Spain. Indian has the advantage of geographical proximity and English literacy. The knowledge of English allows Indians to travel in Spain without the constant need for translators. India and Spain also share a greater affinity. Lera says, “Indians are the Latinos of Asia. And the Spanish are the Indians of Europe!” He elaborates that our food, festivals and culture are similar. The national dish of Spain - paella is like the Indian pulao. Their tomato festival Tomatina is similar to Holi. And just as India is diverse and made from different regions, so is Spain. Indians and the Spanish also share a common love for family and volubility, the main advantage, Lera says, is this shared affinity.
Along with other promotions, Lera is excited about an exhibition of cartoons by iconic Goan cartoonist Mario Miranda. Eighty-four-year-old Miranda travelled to Spain recently. His cartoons will be put on display in Spain and India.
NANDINI NAIR
Steps to attract Indian tourists
Opening of Spain Tourism Board office in Mumbai
Catai Tours, leading Spanish tour operator, opened its office in New Delhi last year
An exhibition of cartoons by Mario Miranda on Spain to be displayed in India and Spain
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