The Costa Blanca Tourist Board is attending the ICEF Spanish Education fair in Madrid in a bid to strengthen the province’s position as a leading destination for learning Spanish. The event is regarded as one of the most important international meetings focused on Spanish language education.

Organised in a specialised format, ICEF brings together universities, language schools, educational centres, agents and tour operators involved in study abroad programmes. Representatives from the Diputación de Alicante are holding a series of pre-arranged meetings with international partners and promoting the Costa Blanca as both an academic and tourist destination.

José Mancebo, director of the provincial tourism board, has said the fair provides highly effective business-to-business meetings aimed at securing collaboration agreements and new opportunities. He added that language tourism is a strategic segment, as it generates longer stays, helps reduce seasonality and attracts visitors with a strong economic impact.

According to the latest Instituto Cervantes report, 24.6 million people learned Spanish as a foreign language in 2025, a 1.5% increase on the previous year. The provincial authority said Alicante has seen sustained growth in international students at its universities and Cervantes-accredited language schools, reflecting rising global demand for destinations that combine academic excellence with quality of life.