The General Directorate of Tourism of the Regional Government of Extremadura celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Extremadura Birdwatching Fair (FIO: Feria Internacional de Turismo Ornitológico) 2025 this year. As part of the action, together with the overseas offices of Turespaña organized a familiarization trip (18 to 20 February) for travel agents focused on birding, followed by FIO 2025 in Monfragüe National Park from February 21 to 23, 2025.
During the trip, participants learned about some of nature tourism offerings, especially the ornithological values of Extremadura. During the fair, they made professional contacts with companies from Extremadura and other regions present at the event as exhibitors.
OET Mumbai invited two travel agents to participate in this activity.
Extremadura is considered one of the most important regions in Europe for birds and thus it is among the most prized destinations for birdwatching enthusiasts and nature lovers from all over the world, drawn by the possibility of observing birds in natural habitats of great beauty and also to enjoy the interesting cultural and historical heritage of Extremadura.
Find out more about FIO 2025 in this video.
NIVAAN VASHI from NIVALINK, MUMBAI (INDIA)
- About birdwatching fam trip
“Birdwatching opportunities are vast in this region and I feel like we could only get a taste of it in our few days. Monfrague National Park is beautiful, and we had a great time witnessing the 100s of Eurasian Griffon breeding and calling this park home. Also had wonderful opportunities to spot endemic birds like the Iberian Magpie and Spanish Imperial Eagle. Park is easy to explore and signages are very informative, making it an enjoyable experience. Other birding experiences like observing Great Bustards around the grasslands of Trujillo and the White Stork and Lesser Kestrel colonies at the church was also surreal experiences. All of this coupled with the wildlife and hide infrastructure means that there is enough for a birdwatcher to spend at least a week here and thus it makes Extremadura the top birding destination in Europe and something we will push towards our birdwatching clientele”
“The Extremadura bird fair was such an enjoyable and a very educational experience. I appreciated getting our own tables and meeting with all the stakeholders involved in the birdwatching industry of Extremadura. Met with some amazing lodge owners, birding companies and others which took my knowledge of the region to the next level. Also loved interacting with fellow birders and visiting other stalls and photography and art installations. Overall, a brilliant experience”.
RAIZA SALDIN from TRAVELBRIDGE, COLOMBO (SRI LANKA)
- About birdwatching fam trip:
“In the small village of Acedera in Vegas Altas, flocks of White Storks had chosen the ruins of an old church as a nesting site. It was sunny 6 degree weather and clear blue skies, our guide had set up the scopes so we had a good close up view. I was able to practice phone-scoping through my binoculars since the storks were content in their nests and curious to the observers around as their perches were quite high up on the building. On the road bound for La Serena, we made one stop before the plains where we were able to pick up Corn Bunting, Ziting Cisticola, European Stonechat and Nothern Lapwings. Further down the road from where the bus was parked, I was excited to have my first sighting of the famous Great Bustards even though the view through the scopes and binoculars wasn't clear due to the rising thermals”
“One of the highlights was a stunning photo exhibition featuring birds and landscapes of Extremadura. We took our time admiring the beautifully captured nature-themed portraits. It was evident that a great deal of planning had gone into designing an event that appealed to both adults and children, successfully raising awareness of Extremadura as a premier birdwatching and tourism destination”
