The “guest country” at the EXPONATUR 2009 Nature & Adventure Fair is to be the USA. This fourth EXPONATUR fair is scheduled to take place at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre on November 6-8.

Visitors will have the chance to get to know some of the treasures that can be found in the immense backdrop of nature in the US. Apart from monuments and other tourist attractions, they include some of the most spectacular sights on earth with countless wonders ranging from broad coastlines to mountain ranges, vast prairies, great expanses of desert and deep canyons.

The range of US-based activities to be presented at EXPONATUR 2009 includes trips along the historic Route 66 by Harley-Davidson, skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, flying and sailing down magnificent rivers.

Highlights include the presence of EagleRider, the world's biggest motorcycle touring agency, which offers fun-filled adventure trips along the legendary Route 66 by Harley-Davidson in true American style, among many other packages; Aventurismo, an agency belonging to the Alesport Group which specialises in customised trips using multiple forms of travel, including incredible roundtrips by light plane, balloon, helicopter, boat, etc; the Vail Resort winter resort in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, which is renowned for its spectacular landscapes and top-class ski slopes; and American Airlines, plus other companies whose participation has yet to be confirmed by the Visit USA Committee-Spain, the organiser of the US involvement in the event.

Exhibitors will also include other adventure sports and travel agencies, clothing and footwear firms, rural guesthouses, tourist information offices, tourist boards, district tourist promotion organisations, federations and associations, accessories, instrument and material suppliers, foodstuff firms, schools, training courses, publishing houses and publications.

Visitors to EXPONATUR 2009, from families to active tourism enthusiasts, adventurers and seekers of alternative leisure pursuits will find a wide range of interesting activities, talks and front-line speakers including well-known figures from the worlds of adventure and nature, as well as exhibitions, demonstrations and activities organised at the venue over the three days of the event.

There will also be prize draws for trips, accommodation, sports equipment and activities. The programme of activities is to be drawn up in coordination with Aktiba, the Basque Association of Active Tourism Companies.

Rambling, orienteering, cycle touring, mountain biking, climbing, mushroom picking, horseback trekking, skiing, cross-country snow trips, camping, caravanning, mobile homes, rafting, canyoning, kayaking, diving, snorkelling, sailing, surfing, windsurfing, canoeing, waterskiing, hang gliding, autogyro flying and parachuting are all included in the range of water, air and mountain sports coverage by the event.

EXPONATUR 2008 brought more than 12,000 visitors into the world of adventure. 88 exhibitors took part, and the event featured such well-known sportsmen and women and adventurers as Jesús Calleja, Ester Sabadell, Joseba Kerexeta and Juanra Madariaga among others.

EXPONATUR 2009 is sponsored by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa.