Ciudad Real has welcomed more than 371,000 visitors and recorded 570,000 overnight stays during the first nine months of the year, establishing tourism as a crucial driver of economic activity and job creation in the province. This was highlighted by Blanca Fernández, the regional delegate of the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha in Ciudad Real, at the opening of the I Feria Nacional Cofrade 'Ciudad Real Monumental', held at the IFEDI convention centre to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Banda de Cornetas y Tambores Nuestra Señora del Prado.
Fernández noted that the growth of the tourism sector is reflected in an overall increase of 22% over the past eleven years, bringing the total number of visitors to 4.6 million and nearly eight million overnight stays. She emphasised that these figures demonstrate the province's ability to transform its cultural, natural, and heritage resources into development opportunities.
During her address, she explained that the regional government's support for this inaugural fair is linked to the deep-rooted significance of Holy Week in the province and its capacity to generate economic activity. “When Isidoro proposed the idea, we found it very interesting that a province like ours, with numerous national, international, and regional tourist interest declarations linked to Holy Week, would host a fair and a national contest of cornets and drums,” she stated.
Fernández highlighted the involvement of thousands of people throughout the year in Holy Week activities and the strong cultural and associative fabric that supports these traditions. “There are thousands of people involved in the Holy Week celebrations, and they do it exceptionally well. It is a significant engine for the provincial and regional economy, but it also forms part of our identity. Holy Week is integral to Ciudad Real,” she asserted.
She underscored the importance of continuing to support cultural expressions and popular traditions, both for their heritage value and their economic and tourism impact. “From an economic standpoint, we must continue to support tradition and culture, with Holy Week playing a prominent role within that framework.”
Ciudad Real boasts several declarations of Tourist Interest related to Holy Week, including the Ruta de la Pasión Calatrava, which traverses ten municipalities and received the designation of International Tourist Interest in July. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Ciudad Real's Holy Week being declared of National Tourist Interest, while the celebrations in Daimiel, Campo de Criptana, and Villarrubia de los Ojos hold regional distinctions.
Fernández acknowledged that these recognitions are the result of the hard work of brotherhoods, bands, associations, and local residents who keep these celebrations alive and help promote the province. She reiterated the regional government's commitment to supporting initiatives like this fair, which aim to showcase that effort and expand opportunities linked to cultural tourism.
The I Feria Nacional Cofrade 'Ciudad Real Monumental' is organised by the Asociación Cultural Banda de Cornetas y Tambores Nuestra Señora del Prado-La Pasión to commemorate its 35th anniversary. The event takes place on 7 and 8 November at the IFEDI and aims to become a national reference point, bringing together brotherhoods, bands, musicians, artists, artisans, and industry professionals.
The programme includes concerts, talks, and discussions, as well as a cofrade hall featuring 35 exhibitors dedicated to traditional crafts such as goldsmithing, carving, gilding, embroidery, and candle-making. An exhibition by local sculptor Luis Fernando Ramírez Mata is also on display. Music is a major highlight of this inaugural edition, with nearly thirty bands of cornets and drums and musical groups from various Spanish provinces expected to gather around 3,000 musicians over the two days.
The regional delegate encouraged residents from across the province to visit the IFEDI and experience the scale of this event. “We want to encourage everyone in the province to come and visit this fair, to listen to the music, and to learn more about Holy Week and all the work that goes into it,” she said, before congratulating the Asociación Cultural Banda de Cornetas y Tambores Nuestra Señora del Prado on its 35 years of service and wishing them success with this initiative.
With this first edition, Ciudad Real aims to join the ranks of major national gatherings in the cofrade world, leveraging the cultural, musical, heritage, and tourism potential of a tradition that represents a collective identity and serves as an important resource for economic and social dynamism.
The inauguration was also attended by Isidoro Aparicio, president of the Asociación Cultural Banda de Cornetas y Tambores Nuestra Señora del Prado; Agustín Espinosa, provincial delegate for Sustainable Development; Patricia Saldaña, vice president of the Provincial Council; and Miguel Hervás and Pedro Lozano, councillors for Mobility and Culture of the City Council of Ciudad Real, respectively.
