Five reasons Spain should be on your dream destinations list

Spanish history, food, and culture have captured the hearts and minds of travelers everywhere, and Filipinos are no different.

The history of Spain and the Philippines have been intertwined for centuries. Our culture is peppered with Spanish influences, some of our languages infused with Spanish words.

“Spain is increasingly becoming a popular destination among Filipinos. We have had more than 50,000 Filipinos visit,” Jorge Manuel Domecq Fernández de Bobadilla, Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines said in a recent event. “Discovering Spain is a way for Filipinos to discover their own history.”

And even if you are still totally uninterested in the two countries’ pasts, there are still many reasons to visit La España. Here are 5 of them.

Heritage

The Spanish have always been proud of their history and heritage, taking great care to preserve both through museums and historical sites. Spain has 43 World Heritage sites, making it the second country with the most number of such sites. It is third in the world in UNESCO-declared biosphere reserves, owing to its number of natural spaces.

Religious heritage is also an important part of Spain’s history and tourism, with churches and monasteries becoming popular pilgrimage spots. One of the most famous is the Santiago de Compostela, or the Way of Saint James, where pilgrims take any number of routes on foot to the Cathedral of the same name in Galicia.

“We have a very special way of living history,” Amb. Fernández de Bobadilla said.

Food

Spain has been in the forefront of the culinary world. It is the 5th country with the most Michelin stars and has some of the world’s best chefs and restaurants—142 Michelin-starred restaurants, to be exact, and continues to pave the way globally in terms of food and wine.

Ferran Adria, one of the pillars of deconstructivist cuisine, is often the first Chef that comes to mind. Aside from being the sherry capital of the world, Jerez de la Frontera has a rich wine culture, one that could help position Spain’s vibrant wine industry as one of the most prominent in the world. It has been chosen as the european Wine City for 2014.

Sports

Football fans are gearing up for the World Cup 2014 in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and the Spanish national team is one of the worldwide favorites.

This year, Spain is host to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Basketball Championship, one of the biggest sporting events in the world, on August 30 to September 14 in the cities of Barcelona, Bilbao, Granada, Gran Canaria, Madrid, and Sevilla.

“The Philippine Nation Team will be playing the initial games in Sevilla, by the way,” Amb. Fernández de Bobadilla said.

Shopping

Spain is a shopper’s dream. Home to popular brands like Zara and Mango, Spain draws an increasing amount of tourists each year seeking retail therapy.

Madrid and Barcelona have been ranked second in shopping destinations in Europe by both The Economist and Bloom Global, while CNN has ranked Madrid as one of the Top 12 shopping destinations in the world.

Spain has the highest tax refund in Europe, resulting in luxury goods being much cheaper than, say the Philippines, and has less than 20% import duties that exist on luxury goods over in Asia.

And if there’s two things Filipinos love, it’s shopping, and a good bargain.

A guaranteed good time

Spain is blessed with good weather all year round, excellent infrastructure for handling a formidable tourism industry, and diverse cultural experiences that range from historical sites to places to party. It is also relatively cheap compared to a lot of other European countries.

Plus, it’ll be easier to travel to Spain soon.

“We are finalizing an air transport agreement with the Philippine government. It should be signed later this year,” Amb. Fernández de Bobadilla said. “This would allow us to I hope have direct flights... from Manila to Spain.”

Spain can be quite addictive. All it takes to realize this is one visit. — VC, GMA News