Calpe, together with Benissa and Altea, has participated in the Fiets en Wandelbeurs fair in Utrecht, one of the most important events in Europe dedicated to cycle tourism and hiking, thus consolidating its commitment to active and sustainable tourism throughout the year.
The Calpe delegation took a guided tour with the founder of the fair, who shared the evolution of this event throughout its 20-year history. The Fiets en Wandelbeurs is the current benchmark for active tourism in Europe and represents the values of sustainability and responsible tourism that Calpe seeks to promote.
The event attracts thousands of visitors and professionals from the sector every year (this year 25,000 attendees were expected), making it an essential meeting point for destinations, tour operators and active tourism enthusiasts.
The success of the local hiking groups in Calpe, made up of people of different nationalities, has aroused the interest of the organisers of the fair who have proposed that these associations, which know the territory and the historical routes of great cultural and scenic value, participate in future editions sharing their experience through talks and specialised seminars. This collaboration will allow the international public to see the richness of our trails and the vitality of hiking in the town.
The presence at the fair has been especially fruitful in terms of professional relationships. Numerous tour operators specialising in cycling and hiking have shown interest in incorporating Calpe as a preferred destination for their upcoming seasons.
Furthermore, Calpe's routes have been incorporated into digital cycling and running platforms such as Strava, Bikemap and Komoot, which will significantly increase international visibility. The tourism department has established a calendar of follow-up actions to turn these initial contacts into solid and lasting commercial relationships.
‘Participation in this fair represents an important step in our strategy of tourism diversification,’ said Marco Bittner, councillor for international promotion at Calpe Town Council. “The interest shown by professionals in the sector confirms the potential of our town as a first-rate destination for active tourism,” he added.