UNESCO Global Geoparks where presented in FITUR International Tourism Fair, as sustainable tourism destinations, from 18 to 22 January 2017 in Madrid, in the context of events organized to launch the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Many officials, head of states, prime ministers and ministers of Tourism joined the General Director of WTO Mr. Taleb Rifai, Mr F. Bandarin UNESCO ADG for Culture, Mrs Elzbieta Bienkowska European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs., to address the launching event of  International year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017  in Madrid.

The GGN President participated in the event together with more than 600 participants representatives from the WTO member states, international organizations, civil society organizations, private sector and international media.

UNESCO Global Geoparks were presented in a special stand curated by the Geoparks Naturtejo, Villuercas Ibores Jara, Basque Coast and Sobrarbe. The stand was very successful since thousands of visitors of the exhibition visited it and learned about the concept of the Geoparks.