Ruben Lopez returns to Madrid after five years heading up Spanish TB in Dublin,
Mr Lopez has now been appointed by the new Spanish Tourism minister Rosario Sánchez to oversee international relations between the Spanish tourist board and its source markets.
His tenure coincided with the most difficult period for Travel and Tourism since the ending of the troubles in Northern Ireland and the Eta militant campaign in Spain.
After the pandemic, Spain was the major market which recovered quickest out of Ireland and the rapid growth which had been a feature of the 210s resumed.
Mr Lopez oversaw the promotion of tourism promotion to those regions not frequented by tourists, concentrating on dispersal and seasonality. Most recently Castia La Mancha held their very first Tourism promotion event in Dublin.
Spanish Tourism worked closely in collaboration with the Irish Travel trade and strong ties with Ryanair were established.
The Irish Travel Agents Association conference was hosted by Huelva in 2022 and will be hosted by Almería in 2024, reestablishing a pattern where every second annual conference goes to the country.
Over that past twelve months he oversaw Spain’s ambitious move to be the most sustainable tourism destination in the world.
Ireland is source of 3pc of total tourism to Spain and the highest number of tourists per capita.
