FITUR 2022: Xàbia promotes ‘El Año Balenciaga’ at tourism trade fair in Madrid
The town will also offer itself as a sustainable and responsible tourist destination.
Wednesday 19th January 2022 – PRESS RELEASE with Mike Smith
Xàbia representatives have travelled to Madrid to participate in the FITUR 2022 International Tourism Fair. The municipality, as in previous years, is integrated into the stand of the Costa Blanca with its own stand in which all inquiries from influencers, professionals and potential tourists can be answered.
In addition, the mayor José Chulvi, and councilor Antonio Miragall (Tourism) have presented some of the town’s tourism offers. One of them, linked to the ambitious cultural project promoted by Xàbia Council in recent years, is the celebration of “El Año Balenciaga en Xàbia” during 2022.
Miragall has explained that, in addition to being one of the most legendary designers in the world of fashion, Cristóbal Balenciaga was also in love with Xàbia, where he died in 1972.
That is why 50 years later, the municipality wants to pay tribute to this great master with the exhibition “El Siglo de Balenciaga” – curated by Pedro Usabiaga – and its parallel activities which will run between July 1st and September 30th and decorate the municipal art galleries with some of his most iconic designs, personal articles and many curiosities surrounding this figure and his link with the town of Xàbia.
Mayor José Chulvi added that the council is making an effort to change focus and promote projects designed towards the tourism sector “that seeks to offer respectful experiences with the place and other people that we value and make a sustainable use of natural resources”.
In that way, in addition to festivals of various musical genres, photography workshops, literature, short films and theatre, it was last year that Xàbia was “a little more ambitious and entered the world of art in a bigger way by taking advantage of the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the arrival of the painter Joaquín Sorolla in our municipality“, a universal artist who portrayed the light and landscapes of Xàbia like no other.
Now, for the second year in a row, Xàbia is proposing an ambitious cultural project starring another illustrious visitor: Cristóbal Balenciaga, the most important designer of haute couture and who also marked a tourist trend by being one of the first to choose a destination that almost six decades later is still in vogue.
“With ‘Año Balenciaga en Xàbia’ we hope to attract tourists looking for something more than the sea, revitalize the urban areas where the exhibition rooms are located; the historic centre and the port zone and, above all, continue to fight to maintain our essence because, as Balenciaga himself said: ‘Prestige remains, fame is ephemeral’,” the mayor explained.
In this sense, the presentation of Xàbia in FITUR 2022 also highlighted the path that the municipality began in 2018 to try to put limits on overcrowding and promote sustainable enjoyment that does not damage natural resources or change the tourist experience “which has always made us one of the best destinations,” said the mayor.
The head of Tourism has reviewed the main actions of this project, from the control of capacities in the popular coves, to the marking off of sea caves and other points of great ecological richness with buoys to avoid damaging anchorages, public transport to the coves, the regulation of activities to active tourism companies and the production of a list of do’s and don’t’s for the responsible tourist. This year it goes a step further with the pre-coastal sustainability project.
The municipal representatives also wanted to express their support for the sector in the midst of the uncertainty they have been experiencing since the pandemic was declared and to send the message that Xàbia is a trusted and safe destination.
For many years, you’ve told us how much you love what we’re doing and some of you have even asked for ways to say thanks. For us, there really is nothing easier to show someone how much you appreciate their efforts than buying them a beer (or a wine; or even a coffee) – it’s so simple. Click on the link below to find out more.
