Meet Elena Valdes Del Fresno, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office in Paris

What is the state of French business tourism in Spain in general, and in the Malaga region in particular?

Elena Valdés del Fresno - In 2014, Spain received 771,000 tourists from France, whether for business reasons or as part of meetings and incentives. This represents 7.3 % of the 10.6 million French tourists in Spain. Hence the importance of the MICE market for us. As far as Andalusia is concerned, and the Costa del Sol in particular, the region is home to 4,300 meetings with a total of 700,000 participants. We are also seeing growth of around 5 % in this market.

What are the best things about the Costa Del Sol?

E. V. del F. - Firstly, its proximity to France, only two hours away by plane, and the ease of access and travel with over 30 international airports and an excellent road and rail transport network. Then there are the region's original meeting venues and, as far as incentives are concerned, the possibility of organising events in museums, theatres, historic buildings, cellars and so on. I would also like to highlight the excellence of the incoming agencies, not only in terms of their experience, but also in terms of the multitude of experiences on offer for seminars and incentives. Finally, Andalusia has much more to offer, with one of the most pleasant climates in Europe, a rich cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO, not to mention its gastronomy.

What do you think is a typical programme in the region from Malaga?

E. V. del F. - The average stay is three days. With so much to choose from, it's difficult to describe a typical programme. However, there are a few must-sees in Malaga, including visits to the Picasso Museum, the Castillo de Santa Catalina and the new Pompidou Museum. As for the rest, there are plenty of options, including a day's golf - there are over 70 in the region - a water sports activity, wine tasting and tapas in one of the typical bodegas. There's really nothing to get bored of...