Fairway, the only professional forum devoted to the Way of St. James, which consists of a market and congress, will hold its 4th event from November 7 to 9, 2021. After an obligatory standstill due to the health situation, the event is back with a bang at the Galician capital’s Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones, with practically all its exhibition space sold. The event will therefore increase the number of Santiago’s in-person events this year, being warmly received by the sector’s professionals.
This information was provided by Fairway’s directors, Manuel Oreiro, Ana Trevisani and Tono Mugico, who informed that “in this fourth year, we’ve opted for a hybrid (in-person and online) format. The theme will centre on sustainability as a way forward and commitment to the future for the new management of the Way of St. James.” Adapting the event to the “new normal” favours the incorporation of a space that is “much more international, redirecting the contacts to a digital environment, which will enable us to improve the number of workshop meetings,” explains the co-director, Manuel Oreiro.
The new structure satisfies the needs of the tourist sector in general, especially in relation to the Camino. “Despite the difficulties, professionals want to meet each and listen to each other, and to resume networking. A possibility that the Fairway’s hybrid format makes possible,” explains the organisation. In this regard, in-person and telematic meetings are being arranged with telemarketers in different countries. In the case of virtual meetings, these will be held with professionals who, due to the current travel restrictions, cannot attend the event in person. These meetings are guaranteed by means of a multi-client platform, with a fast, safe connection.
In relation to the market, co-director Ana Trevisani indicates that “at the moment, the Palacio de Congresos’s exhibition space is practically full.” Among the exhibiters, it is worth highlighting “the presence of autonomous regions that the different Jacobean Routes run through (Castile and Leon, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country, Aragon, Navarre, La Rioja, Catalonia…), who’ve chosen Fairway as the ideal showcase for presenting their tourist destinations.” In addition, other participants include neighbouring destinations such as Porto-North and associations of municipalities along the Camino, such as that of the Vía de la Plata, the French Way in Spain, or the Portuguese Way in Portugal.
Apart from the tourist resources themselves, companies in the equipment sector (such as automatisms, inflatables, bunks, merchandising and even jewellery) will also participate. And completing the experience will be different companies providing cultural, tourist and leisure services, who’ll present their post-Camino proposals.
Activities for all ages on Open Day
In relation to the activity programme itself, Fairway will once again begin with Open Day. This day will turn Fairway into a tourism fair providing visitors with a chance to discover a variety of destinations, tourist service companies and other proposals related to the sector that will participate in the event.
There will also be free activities for visitors, so that they can enjoy the Jacobean experience by means of interesting options. Routes, gastronomic proposals, dialogues or leisure activities will make up a large part of the programme of Fairway’s first day.
Congress and Academy
Fairway is also a meeting place for professionals, organisations and entities linked to the Way of St. James. To that end, it features a full programme divided into two parts: Congress and Academy. “This year’s theme will centre on sustainability, the different scenarios arising due to the health crisis related to COVID-19, and a Camino adapted to the future, which will soon be the present,” in the words of co-director Tono Mugico.
Due to the excellent response to the previous event’s training section, “in this fourth Fairway, we’ve decided to reinforce the workshops, which will centre on digital marketing. They’ll be highly practical and run by outstanding professionals.” Furthermore, there’ll be the possibility of following the training sessions led by great experts both in person or remotely.
In parallel, and based on the theme of the Camino, there will be debating tables, discussions and round tables featuring experts from different fields. These will focus on the sector’s main problems and the different guidelines to be followed to create more sustainable tourism adapted to the new times, especially in view of the extension of the Holy Year to 2022.
The Fairway’s organisation is grateful for the institutional support for this event. “Fairway would not be possible without strong commitment from the Xunta de Galicia and Xacobeo 21-22, A Coruña Provincial Council and Santiago City Council in order to promote a unique space for meeting, doing business and debating about one of the economy’s key sectors, not only for the Galician capital but for the entire autonomous region,” they conclude.
About Fairway
Fairway is the only professional forum on the Way of St. James and this year will be the fourth time that it has been held. It started in 2015 and is promoted by the companies Viloria, Trevisani and Mr Turismo. Fairway has been consolidated as a landmark event for the tourist sector in general, and for that of Jacobean Routes in particular. All the information about the activities that will be held during this fourth Fairway is available on the website www.fairwaysantiago.com.