The Diplomat
The Spanish Tourism Institute (Turespaña), under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, has decided to cancel its participation in the MITT tourism fair in Moscow to be held March 15-17.
Turespaña usually participates in this meeting, as it is the most important tourism fair in the Russian market and constitutes an important opportunity for the presentation of the tourist offer of the destinations and an event where to establish contacts with other professionals and clients.
As a consequence of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the evolution of the conflict, and the coherence of Spain with the sanctions decreed by the European Union, Turespaña has decided “to cancel all its promotional activity in Russia, including the MITT fair”. Turespaña’s counseling office in Moscow has informed all participants previously registered for the fair of this decision.
“Spain, like the EU, condemns the unjustified and cruel aggression against Ukraine decreed by President Putin and demands the withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire territory of Ukraine as an indispensable condition for lifting the sanctions imposed, which include, among others, the closure of European airspace to Russian airlines”, it continued.
As a permanent member of the board of directors of the European Travel Commission (ETC), Turespaña is in coordination with this association and the rest of the National Tourism Offices that are part of it. The ETC has issued a statement condemning Russia and showing solidarity with the Ukrainian people, recalling that “tourism is a tool for peace and mutual understanding.”
“Pending the evolution of the war and its impact on tourist flows in the coming months, the Government of Spain, through Turespaña, is working to find alternatives to an eventual absence of Russian tourists this high season in our destinations most exposed to this market,” it added.
