Sunday saw the departure of one of the many groups who visit Salamanca’s Mester Spanish school each year.  This particular group came from Italy and had the specific aim of learning about the Spanish tourism industry.

The group learning about tourism

Their activity programme was incredibly varied, as were their classes:  centering on Spanish for Tourrism, the group had specially designed classes for conversation in this area, including 1.5 hours per day of role play, acting out typical situations of this sector.  Later they would have various conferences, including ones about tourism in the interior of Spain, a conference about Salamanca as a Culture Capital of Europe and a UNESCO site, a conference about the hospitality and promotion of youth travel in Spain (done by the president of the Hospitality Association of Castile-Leon) and a talk about exporting the tourism services of Castile-Leon.

Later they re-grouped for several brainstorming sessions and focus groups, analysing not just what they’d done in the conferences but discussing key issues in Spanish tourism - from the politics of rural tourism in Spain, the motivations of touristic behaviour in Spain, the marketing of hospitality products, managements and strategies of cultural tourism and potential touristic opportunties in Spain.

Later in the afternoon was the chance to get out the school, taking a selection of trips: from a guided city tour of Salamanca to a visit to the tourism office of the city. Students also took a visit to hospitality complex Doña Brigida, to analyse the case history, visited “La Alberca” for a chance to see the Salamanca countryside and went on excursions to the culture-rich cities of Segovia and Avila.

Apart from all this, students also had the opportunity to take part in the activity programme run by the school, including tapas tour round the city, film nights and cookery classes.

Enjoying a dance class!

It was a successful group trip and we’re hoping to see them back next year!  Remember if you’re interested in group trips to Spain, let us know how you’d like the programme and we’ll cooperate to make your trip as successful, tailor-made and worthwhile as it can be!