Activity is slowly recovering in the venues of Fira de Barcelona. After the small debut of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) and with an eye on the return of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the institution is bringing back one of the shows it organizes, B-Travel, which will be held between June 11 and 13.
With B-Travel, the general public will be able to return to Fira Montjuïc to decide what to do this holiday season, in a summer that will continue to be marked by proximity tourism. The event aims to contribute to the recovery of the tourism sector, which has been severely affected by the COVID crisis, explains the president of B-Travel and of the Corporate Association of Specialized Travel Agencies (Acave), Martí Sarrate. This reactivation is expected for the second half of the year, and Sarrate assures that the show will contribute to it.
In an edition still limited by the pandemic, B-Travel, formerly the Barcelona tourism fair, will bring together a total of 60 direct exhibitors and more than 300 indirect ones, with a wide participation of local players, such as Renfe or Vueling, who will be distributed over 3,000 square meters of hall 8 of the Plaza Espanya venue. The capacity will be 50%, with a maximum of 3,400 attendees, complying with current restrictions. Among this year's novelties, a space for screening travel documentaries and an escape room to discover industrial heritage as a tourist destination stand out.
While shows like B-Travel are confirmed, the trade fair calendar continues to adjust. This is the case of Automobile Barcelona, which was scheduled from July 8 to 18 at the Montjuïc venue. The crisis that the industry is experiencing due to the lack of semiconductors and the impact it has had on manufacturing has led the organization to postpone the celebration of the 41st edition once again. The new dates will be from September 30 to October 10. "With the change of dates, we seek to guarantee our role as a great international showcase for the automotive industry and a driver of sales after a very complex period," remarks the president of the show, Enrique Lacalle.
Automobile Barcelona is usually held every two years during the month of May, coinciding with the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix in Montmeló. At the time, it was decided to postpone it until July to allow more time for the health crisis to improve.