Introducing Castellón participates in ITB Berlin 2025

Professional event in Berlin, Germany | March 3-5, 2025

From March 3 to 5, the Tourism Product Club participated in the Berlin International Tourism Fair (ITB 2025), one of the most important fairs in the sector worldwide. This event has been key to establishing new connections with tour operators and promoting Castellón’s tourism offering in the German market, a strategic and growing market for the province.

Meetings and business opportunities

During the three days of the fair, numerous meetings were held with tour operators and representatives from the German tourism sector. Highlights include:

✔️ Gebeco-TUI expressed interest in including Castellón in its 2026 program, likely combining it with Valencia to strengthen its visibility in the market. A comarketing strategy was agreed upon to boost its launch.

✔️ Chamaleon Reisen explored the possibility of including new products for 2027, with interest in the Valencia-Castellón combination and its offer in inland areas. The possibility of conducting a pilot test in 2025 or 2026 was raised.

✔️ Alpetour, specializing in groups over 50 and sustainable tourism, highlighted its interest in sports groups, especially cyclists.

✔️ Fit Reisen, an operator specializing in wellness and health tourism, confirmed the inclusion of Termas El Palasiet and Hotel Rosaleda del Mijares in its catalog, along with the new Magic World Spa Hotel. A two-year comarketing collaboration was agreed (2026-2027).

✔️ A collaboration was established with Stuttgart Airport to encourage tourism to Castellón, coinciding with the launch of a new air route in May.

Overall, these meetings have opened up new opportunities to position Castellón in the German market, highlighting its cultural, natural, and wellness offerings.

Institutional events and a worrying oversight

The fair also included two key events for the promotion of Spanish and Valencian tourism:

📌 Noche de España, organized by Turespaña, featured the presentation of the Spain Tourism Awards 2025 and a gastronomic cocktail that facilitated networking. However, it was surprising that the sponsorship of this event fell to Turisme de Cataluña, something unprecedented to date.

📌 Valencian Community Night, an event where the region’s tourist destinations were presented. Benidorm, Alicante-Costa Blanca, Valencia and Elche had their space, but surprisingly Castellón was left out of the official presentation. Despite the presence of representatives from the Castellón Provincial Board of Trustees and the Product Club, neither the Ministry of Tourism nor any institutional representative made any mention of the province.

This exclusion generated astonishment and discomfort among the attendees, since Castellón had incurred additional expenses to stay in Berlin and attend the event. An explanation has been requested from the Ministry, but to date there has been no official response.

Conclusions and next steps

From a commercial point of view, the fair has been very productive, allowing us to strengthen relationships with tour operators and open up new business opportunities. This year’s novelty was the presence of Turisme Comunitat Valenciana with its own stand, which improved visibility and allowed for greater promotion.

However, the institutional management of the event left much to be desired. Castellón’s lack of presence at the official presentation of the Valencian Community was a serious error, reflecting the need for greater coordination and commitment on the part of the institutions.

Looking to the future, it is essential that Castellón’s representation at international fairs be more solid and structured, ensuring that the destination receives the visibility it deserves. The German market represents a great growth opportunity for the province, and these events are key to consolidating its position as a quality tourist destination.

🔹 We will continue working to ensure that Castellón has the prominence it deserves in international tourism promotion.