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Costa Rica wins Best Sustainable Stand at the Fitur Tourism Fair in Spain

  • The award criteria included reusing materials and following public health protocols to combat COVID-19.
  • The fair began on May 19 and finished on Sunday.

Friday, May 21, 2021. Madrid, Spain. Costa Rica received the Best Sustainable Stand award at the global tourism trade fair FITUR this Friday, which recognized the reuse of materials, the use of sustainable elements, energy savings, hiring local personnel and closely following public health protocols to combat COVID-19.

“Costa Rica has won the category because its stand is 100% reusable and sustainable, and also complies with all of the recommended requirements of social distancing and COVID-19 protocols,” said Silvia Bueno, the manager for Latin America at the FITUR trade fair.

“We welcome the news that Costa Rica has won the best sustainable stand award from the organizers of Fitur 2021, an award for which we are profoundly grateful,” said Gustavo J. Segura, Minister of Tourism. “This prize is a clear reflection of the values our destination embodies, based in sustainability and a steadfast commitment to the principles of decarbonization and respect for the environment, culture, sustainable food production and the application of COVID-19 public health protocols.”

The stand, measuring 200 square meters, is made from material used in prior trade fairs and directs visitors’ attention to QR codes, which are used in order to avoid providing printed information. This measure not only protects the environment, but also reflects the application of public health protocols.

“We have made an effort to show respect and commitment to these criteria by using material that is 90% reused from stands we had already made and were keeping in storage for the past year,” explained Elena Marín, Project Manager at CONEX, the company in charge of designing and preparing the stand. “Among the materials used was OSB, which is made from compacted wood. We have also worked on energy-saving measures, reduced plastic consumption by using cardboard in certain areas, and spared no effort in observing COVID health protocols.”

The stand is equipped with a handwashing station with acrylic signage for visitors. The stand complies with strict physical distancing measures, mask use, temperature monitoring and hand sanitizer dispensers, along with limits on occupancy.

Sixteen tourism sector companies from Costa Rica attended Fitur 2021, which is considered to be one of the world’s largest showcases and negotiation platforms for tourism professionals, with participants from over 165 countries and regions worldwide.

This is the first in-person tourism fair held globally since the pandemic began, and is being run with strict health protocols. The fair will continue until Sunday, May 23.