Record number of visitors expected

This organisation is backing this initiative and is collaborating with the organisors in all aspects linked to the sector which are considered necessary to promote this event, which will take place from June 14 to September 14 2008 with the slogan “Water and sustainable development”.

The President of the Tourism Round Table, Juan Andres Melian, said “as was shown in Seville in 1992, the exhibition in Zaragoza will serve to further promote the name of Spain, converting the country into a world sociocultural place for three months”.

According to the Round Table, following the trend of the last few years, with the massive influx of visitors to Zaragoza, a new record of 65 million foreign visitors will be reached, some 7.5 million more than the amount of foreign tourists recorded in 2006, which was 58.5 million, according to the Institute of Tourist Studies. “Undoubtedly the Universal Exhibition will consolidate the second position which Spain occupies in the world listings for tourist destinations, and will have a great effect on the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”.

The organisation estimates that “all the tourist sector should collaborate to make sure this project is an international success. For this purpose, the tourism companies linked with the Round Table are cooperating with the organisors of the 'Expo' for whatever they require from us”.

According to the calculations of the organisors, between 70 and 90 countries, in addition to international companies and non profit making organisations, will participate in this monumental event.

Melian explained that the countries considered the main international markets for tourists visiting the exhibition will be France, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland and Austria.