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Fairway, II Forum of the Way of St. James, confirms its role as a meeting point for all the voices of the routes
Accessibility in the Way, the situation in other countries or the challenges of the route have been some of the matters dealt with in its third day
The intersectoral discussion tables, new in this edition, have been confirmed as a format success
Santiago de Compostela, November 14, 2017. -Fairway, Way of St. James Forum lives its last day with satisfaction as the predominant note among all those who take part in this multifaceted meeting for professionals, institutions and interested in the routes to Santiago.
It should be noted that the intersectoral debate tables have been very well received, one of the novelties of this second edition. These are spaces for reflection in which authorized voices, coming from both the business world and the institutions, have put on the table their points of view and their proposals for solutions to the problems in the different routes that converge in Compostela. In these tables have been confronted multiple interests and opinions, sometimes divergent, in search of the common good.
The workshop of business meetings, which has had a frenetic activity and a meticulous schedule work, has also been a great success, which has allowed the more than 1,600 planned encounters between local supplier companies and 27 tour operators to develop without incident. 15 countries.
In the congress, accessibility on the Way of St. James was one of the aspects that were addressed in this last day. In the hands of the director of Universal Accessibility and Innovation of the ONCE Foundation, Jesús Hernández Galán, the need to continue advancing in the so-called "accessibility chain", that is, the facilitation of access to the pilgrim with some type of disability, was reflected in transport, especially the interurban, in the accommodation or in the signage of both buildings and the road itself. The head of the ONCE stressed that "accessibility is not expensive, it is when the building is badly designed from the beginning." Finally, regarding the incorporation of new technologies, Hernández Galán was critical with the adaptation of the majority of the Way of St. James apps, which do not meet the criteria of accessible websites, together with Hernández Galán also discussed accessibility Rafael Sánchez Bargiela, manager of Xacobeo, and Simón Neira Dueñas, manager of Geozzy.com.
In Fairway there has been a lot of talk these days about the Ways of St. James, since there are many itineraries that are still little known, such as the Portuguese Way along the Coast, a "green and blue, inland and coastal" road, just like it was described by José Costa, tourist advisor of Esposende.
"A way in contact with the land and the sea, which is expanding, which is born in Porto but is much more, 141 kilometers to Valença de Miño for which more than 6,000 pilgrims have passed so far this year." A path that crosses "a territory full of heritage that offers at every step all the experiences of the Camino, under the motto at each step, a sense," says Costa.
The Encamiñando project, of the Juana de Vega Foundation; and the challenges of the Way: from tradition to contemporaneity were the presentations that closed an event in which there was also space for the international dimension with the presentation of the Japanese Kudo Kodo Way, the work of international tour operators, the stands at the fair or the session dedicated to the Portuguese Rota do Românico and the Francesco's Ways.
The professional fair, with more than 60 exhibitors and more than 100 brands showing their novelties and resources, has continued to attract visitors with the passing of the hours. In addition to a greater number of companies than in the first edition, the increase in positions offering resources from different territories stands out.
Fairway, II Forum of the Wayof St. James. An initiative from the private sector
Fairway, Forum of the Camino de Santiago, was born from the private initiative. It is promoted by the wholesale-retailer Viajes Viloria; the marketing agency Mr Turismo; and Trevisani, a company that organizes events, protocol and public relations, and communication.
It has the main sponsorship of Correos, the institutional collaboration of the Deputation of A Coruña and the support of Paradores, Cathedral of Santiago, Cluster of Tourism of Galicia and of different sponsoring entities and collaborators.
All information about this event is on the web portal www.fairwaysantiago.com