Has Expourense grown more regarding events and thematic fairs since its creation in 1992? How do you assess its development up to now and how do you think Expourense has contributed to the growth of tourism, trade and business in Galicia?

Expourense currently holds an average of 10 fairs a year and specializes in strategic sectors in Galicia, linked to the potential of our territory, as in the case of spas, wine, food, funeral industry, transport and even the elderly. It is about a niche of unique markets in which it is seeking to value their projection, often internationally. Each activity is organized by this precinct and has a social, economic, tourism-oriented and cultural impact on the surroundings. In addition, a socioeconomic survey conducted by Expourense reveals that every euro invested in an event has an impact on average of five euros worth of revenue in the province.

But this year Expourense has gone a step further with the recent amendment of its statutes to allow the Foundation to focus on the promotion of the city and the entire province as a destination for tourism, business tourism, conferences, conventions and incentives, always taking advantage of the experience of Expourense in managing large events. Among the new goals, you will also find the advice and support to companies and organizations in terms of internationalization and business opportunities in foreign markets. So, Expourense will put its network of international partners it has been creating in recent years, into the service of business sector.

As director of Termatalia, what can you tell us about the strengthening of this show and its upcoming 11th edition? Termatalia is the International Tourism Fair Thermal Iberian Peninsula and the only world that brings together professionals from Europe and Latin America, with the seal of international treaties ratified by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce in the Government of Spain. The eleventh edition of Termatalia, which will take place between 23 and 25 September 2011, will become the center of the international business sector to promote development in two areas at both tourism and industrial levels. Each edition has benefited from the participation of more than 25 countries. The professional actions of Termatalia 2011, such as the stock market, tour operators, tourism with European and Latin American, tasting water or the International Meeting on Water and Cures, marked again the agenda of the sector. The overall objective of this fair is to promote the "Culture of Water" and to familiarize potential customers with springs in an effort to ramp up business in countries that may still experience significant growth, as in the case in Spain.

Over 14 years, the Group Excellencies, with its digital and printed publications, has made efforts in promoting international tourism, with emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean. Time has passed by and we have reached a major milestone in which we celebrate the 100th issue of the Excellence magazine. Yes, reaching the 100th issue means the completion of a phase for a project that’s marked by perseverance and hard work, and that is why the first thing I want to do is to congratulate them.

There are many parallels between the Excellence magazine and Termatalia, Expourense’s main project, both of which stand for a link between European and Latin American tourism, featuring destinations noted for their quality and also because we share interest in markets such as Mexico, Argentina, Chile or Colombia. We both promote health tourism as one tourism products with greater growth potentials in the world, and promote environmental tourism. It is about a type of tourism that has an end consumer that has become more demanding, asking for greater professionalism and excellence and customized services, all of which marks the importance this magazine has garnered in each new issue.