STORY: Chinese, Spanish entrepreneurs discuss tourism recovery in Spain
DATELINE: July 4, 2023
LENGTH: 0:02:00
LOCATION: Madrid
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the event
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): MIGUEL MIGUEL SANZ, Director General of Turespana
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): MIGUEL MIGUEL SANZ, Director General of Turespana
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): RAFAEL FERNANDEZ VILLASANTE, Director of Operations in AENA
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Spanish): RAFAEL FERNANDEZ VILLASANTE, Director of Operations in AENA
6. various of the event

STORYLINE:

The Spanish Tourism Institute (Turespana) in collaboration with the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) held the first roundtable for dialogue and exchanges of Chinese and Spanish tourism entrepreneurs on Monday in Madrid.

The current forum is one of the most important projects within the framework of the China-Spain Year of Culture and Tourism.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): MIGUEL MIGUEL SANZ, Director General of Turespana
"In this event, we are talking about the recovery of tourism in China and Spain, that is, we are talking about the recovery of tourism in the two main tourist powers in the world."

The event was held within the framework of the Action Plan for the Recovery of Chinese Tourism which was launched at the beginning of this year.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): MIGUEL MIGUEL SANZ, Director General of Turespana
"That recovery can already be felt in the different Spanish destinations, we are seeing more and more people from China in the streets of different cities, coasts, mountains and towns in Spain."

For the director general of Turespana, connectivity is an issue that still needs to be promoted, so they are looking to improve the connection between the Spanish airport management company AENA and various airlines from both countries.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): RAFAEL FERNANDEZ VILLASANTE, Director of Operations in AENA
"We are intensifying our relationship with all Chinese airlines and also with Spanish airlines that can fly in this market."

In 2019, about 700,000 Chinese visited Spain, spending 1.65 billion euros.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Spanish): RAFAEL FERNANDEZ VILLASANTE, Director of Operations in AENA
"We are trying to facilitate their operations, not only by improving the Chinese passenger's experience at our airports, but above all by improving the quality of service at a competitive price for airlines in Spain."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Madrid.
(XHTV)