About

I am very much looking forward to welcoming you to Asturias for AITO’s 2025 Overseas Conference.

Tucked between the dramatic Cantabrian Mountains and the wild, unspoiled Bay of Biscay, Asturias offers a stunning and authentic slice of northern Spain. Just a short flight from London, it can also be reached by train ride from Madrid, or by car from Bilbao. This lush, green region is famed for its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality.

Asturias has played a key role in Spain’s identity. Known as the cradle of the Reconquista, it was here that the Christian resistance began with the legendary Battle of Covadonga. The region’s royal legacy is still visible in its pre- Romanesque architecture, particularly in and around Oviedo, the historic capital. Asturias is also the birthplace of many celebrated Spanish traditions, including the unique cider culture—poured from great height with theatrical flair—and a gastronomic tradition that blends mountain and sea, with hearty fabadas, fresh seafood, and award-winning cheeses.

From charming fishing villages to medieval towns and dramatic coastal cliffs, Asturias is a land of contrast and character. While steeped in history and tradition, it also has a vibrant modern life, with lively plazas, music, and some of the most authentic tapas experiences in the country. I look forward to discovering the beauty, heritage, and flavours of this remarkable region together.

Manuel Butler Halter

I would like to welcome you to the Principality of Asturias. We are honored to host your Annual Conference Abroad and invite you to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our brand: Asturias, a Natural Paradise.

In 1985, we began a tourism journey whose values remain true to this day.

Sustainability, quality, and hospitality remain three essential elements of our tourism model, making us the standard-bearers of 21st-century Spanish tourism. In 1985, we began a tourism journey whose values remain true to this day. Sustainability, quality, and hospitality remain three essential elements of our tourism model, making us the standard-bearers of 21st-century Spanish tourism.

Asturias is the heart of Green Spain. A territory of 10,000 square kilometers and home to 1 million inhabitants, it offers 110,000 places in more than 8,000 accommodation establishments. This offers a wide range of options that allow you to explore and discover our greatest treasure: our natural and cultural heritage.

Asturias has managed to preserve the best-preserved coastline in Spain: 400 kilometers of coastline with more than 200 beaches nestled at the foot of peaks exceeding 2,600 meters in altitude. We like to say that in Asturias, you can ski in either of its two winter resorts and be surfing the waves of our Cantabrian Sea in just an hour by car.

With seven sites declared UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, we are the last refuge in Western Europe for species like the brown bears. Asturias is Spain’s largest wildlife reserve, with more than a third of our region protected by environmental protection.

UNESCO has also honored us by declaring some of our most precious assets as World Heritage Sites. The latest, last December: Asturian cider culture.

I trust that these days will be a true discovery, an experience to share, and a destination to recommend.

Welcome to Asturias, the Natural Paradise.

Lara Martínez
Deputy Minister of Asturias Tourism