The local press report that the Tourist board has made further progress in attracting visitors to the province of Castellón and that the airport could receive in excess of 100,000 passengers next year.
Members of the Castellón Tourist Board, along with representatives from the airport attended the World Travel Market (WTM) recently held in London.  With 200 countries and 6,000 exhibiting companies represented, WTM is one of the world’s leading events for the tourism industry.  Andrés Martinez, second vice president of the Diputación de Castellón and deputy for tourism pointed out that we’ve had the opportunity to meet and network with almost all countries that are part of our tourism market.  Martinez said the excellent prospects that have opened in the Russian and English markets with the launch of the airport and possible routes to those countries . An opportunity that will allow us to position the Castellón brand in these markets and also two other priorities, the German and Belgian, along with the French market, that remains the largest.
Martinez, stressed that the Russian market is booming and shows great interest in the fate of Spain.  President of Marina d’Or, Jesús Ger, negotiated with the tour operator Natalie Tours for the arrival of about 55,000 Russians between next year and 2013.  The tour operator has expressed interest in selling more than 20 hotels across the coast of Castellón once the airport is operational.  One of the main meetings was with the directors of the Jet2.com airline that operates mainly from cities in the north of England and that has its own tour operator showing great interest in the province of Castellón and the airport once it is open.
Castellón Airport is now thought to be close to achieving the arrival of one third of the passengers planned for 2012. The final feasibility study calculated the arrival of 309,140 passengers for the inaugural year, 2012,.  Based on agreements so far with tour operators and negotiations with several airlines, next year could already bring about 100,000 visitors to Castellón.  In addition to the 55,000 Russians can be added the already announced arrival of the Austrian tourists visiting the province in spring in the Senior Program Reisen, plus an undetermined amount of FIB music fans.
These travellers will arrive on charter flights, to which could be added more than 70,000 who would arrive in the dozen flights whose negotiations are advanced.  This figure was derived by multiplying the number of flights carrying an average of 114 passengers.  Pedro Gimeno, the vice president of the company managing the site, Concessiones Aeropuerto, said that we are in negotiations with many companies and many tour operators.  They are working for the number of flights and passengers, but are still are unable to confirm how many.  However, recognizing  that negotiations are well advanced with four companies, among which are Ryanair, Wizzair and Jet2.com, whose flights may arrive in the summer of 2013.