The Extremadura Birdwatching Fair (FIO), organised by the Regional Government of Extremadura, has closed its 21st edition with record figures for visitors, exhibitors and business meetings, reaching full capacity in all activities open to the public, including guided tours as well as specialised and children’s workshops.
In total, an estimated 22,000 people attended FIO over the three days of the fair. The busiest day was Saturday, when more than 9,000 people visited the marquees and exhibition areas and took part in the programme of activities designed for all audiences.
This year, the Directorate-General for Tourism brought together 123 exhibitors at the fair, including destinations, companies and artists, fully occupying the three exhibition marquees.
In addition, more than 600 meetings were held on Friday during the Professional B2B Meetings. This contracting platform, the only one in Spain specialised in this type of tourism, connected buyers from various Spanish regions and countries—including France, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, India and Australia—with exhibitors, members of the Birding in Extremadura Club, and incoming travel agencies from the region.
The conference programme also attracted large audiences to talks and panel discussions on ornithological tourism, conservation projects, nature art and photography. Renowned experts such as Carlos de Hita, Ana Fernández, Dale Forbes, Merce R. Romero, Martin Kelsey, Lourdes Berzas and Antonio Sandoval, among others, took part.
All specialised workshops, which required prior registration, reached full capacity. A total of 732 people attended presentations and sessions delivered by José Antonio Sencianes, Carlos de Hita, Luisa Abenza, José Carlos Sires, Natalia Pleite, Marina Cid, Esther Charles and Nacho Sevilla, among other experts.
The photography competition, in which Fernando Prieto García won first prize, achieved its highest international reach in its 21-year history, receiving 7,254 entries from 46 countries.
Among the activities for the public, 772 people took part in hiking routes, minibus tours to various viewpoints in the National Park, and 4×4 excursions, while 743 children registered for workshops related to birds and nature, delivered by several conservation organisations from Extremadura.
Notable new features of this edition included allowing pets into the exhibition marquees, the unveiling of a sculpture by Extremaduran artist Luca García, known as ByLuka, and the introduction of the “Featured National Area of Extremadura” designation, awarded this year to the La Serena region.
