Running of the Bulls News Feed

Running of the Bulls 2021 Officially Cancelled

The mayor of Pamplona, Enrique Maya, along with the Pamplona City Council have officially announced that the Running of the Bulls, and the larger San Fermin festival will not be held in 2021. Given the current situation with COVID-19, the city of Pamplona and the region of Navarra are not prepared to host the event. The mayor cited the fact that the rate of infections remains high, while the rate of vaccinations is not as fast as they had hoped. He said, "the rate of vaccination progresses much slower than expected, and only 202 people out of 1,000 have received one dose and 83 out of 1,000 have received both" when "the forecasts spoke of 70% of the population being…

EU Launches Vaccination Passport Plan

On March 17th EU leaders announced the development of "digital green certificates" which will serve as proof of vaccination for the region's 440 million residents. The program is expected to be ready by June, just in time for the summer travel season. However, it appears that the program will initially only be open to EU citizens. There is an expectation that it would be opened up to visitors from other countries, but there are not immediate plans to do so. The extent to which the vaccine passports will allow freedom of movement is still unclear. The Washington Post quotes German Chancellor Angela Merkel as saying that preferential treatment of vaccinated travelers “isn’t on the agenda, given the low vaccination coverage…

European Tour Operators Association Pushes to Open EU Borders

Running of the Bulls depends on open EU borders Tom Jenkins, CEO of The European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) warns the EU member nations that 2021 tourism revenue is at risk if the borders are not opened to North American travelers. The Schengen area (as the common European border states are known) have been closed to North American visitors since March of 2020. Since North American visitors represent $70 billion in travel spend each year, the 90-95% drop in 2020 is an experience none of the member countries or tour operators want to repeat. For the Running of the Bulls 2021 to happen, several different governing bodies need to be in agreement. All the way from the City of Pamplona,…

North American Travel Options

We can't wait to get back to Spain. The food, the wine and the people all mix to provide a warm welcome. While we wait for the borders to open up again, we've been researching alternate ways to get out and experience something different. Since we spend a lot of time on the Basque Coast of Spain, we're enthusiastic about rocky coastlines, punctuated with quaint harbors and unspoiled beaches. Thankfully, there's a similar region in North America, that can offer that same sense of unspoiled beauty, wide-open spaces, and fishing communities that feel like they've been there forever. New England is just such a place. We got introduce to New England Cruises through a consulting assignment in 2017, and realized…

Travel Options Closer to Home

We're all waiting for the world to open up again. We're seeing some positive developments and various parts of the travel industry are figuring out how to open up more safely. The cruise industry is rapidly transforming to add real-time testing, mask policies, and other strategies to get us all traveling again, safely. One of our favorite Winter escapes is Central and South America. First of all, we get to practice our Spanish to be sure we're ready for Spain in the Summer. Second, we get to escape the North American Winter and trade it in for Caribbean breezes or South American Summer. Whether you're surfing in Mancora, Peru, taking in the sites of Cuzco and Machu Picchu, or laying…

Tourist Office of Spain Statement

Instituto de Turismo de España (TURESPAÑA) has released the following statement regarding updated guidance for inbound tourism into Spain. This does not change the fact that the Running of the Bulls® has been cancelled for July 2020. BORDERS. Once we have marked the opening date on the calendar, we continue more intensively than ever to work with our European partners to define the opening rules. We seek to define common rules to regain freedom of movement three premises in the Schengen area, including The United Kingdom: security guarantees, health capacity and transparency. We are committed to a gradual, coordinated and non-discriminatory opening between areas with the same epidemiological situation, that is, not only by country but by region. CORRIDORS. The…

Domestic Travel Options during COVID-19

Since we can't be in Pamplona, Spain this July, we thought we'd gather up some options a little closer to home. As we learn how to adjust to the new normal, domestic travel destinations in the USA are going to be accessible to many - some even within driving distance. It is up to each person to determine the risk associated with domestic travel. Before making plans, be sure to check the CDC Domestic Travel Guidelines to see how they might impact your plans. Traveling by car can be a great way to get out and see something new. This minimizes your exposure to others, and gives you time to take in the scenery. We are still hopeful that one…

Running of the Bulls® 2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19

The Pamplona city hall has suspended the celebration of the San Fermín festival in July 2020. Acting mayor, Ana Elizalde, who is serving in place of mayor Enrique Maya while he recovers from the coronavirus, announced that the Running of the Bulls, the bullfights and the larger San Fermín Festival have been suspended until further notice. While there was talk of possibly holding a smaller Running of the Bulls in September, the acting mayor said, "We are in an unpredictable scenario and to guess or anticipate what will happen in five months would be an exercise in irresponsibility. Today, it seems complicated that the Sanfermines can be held this year, but we will wait to see how events evolve." Since…

Running of the Bulls, Inc. Reports an 80% Increase in Bookings for 2019

Running of the Bulls, Inc., the largest tour operator for the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, has reported an 80% increase in bookings for the 2019 San Fermin Festival. Having had a record festival in 2018, this significant increase represents an unprecedented demand for travel and tourism at the World's Largest Fiesta™. Bookings are up in all product categories,    

Vulcano Wins the 20th San Fermín Fireworks International Contest

Pyrotechnic Vulcano’s designer, Miguel Ángel Beltrán Sevilla, was elected winner of the 20th San Fermín Fireworks International Contest. His award-winner, “Ciudadela en Llamas” (Ciudadela on Fire), was shown the night of July 13th during the San Fermín Festival. The jury of San Fermín awarded the 5,000 Euro winner prize to the “Ciudadela en Llamas,” followed by Leopoldo Fernández Peñalver’s show, “Noche mágica en la Ciudadela” (Magic night at the Ciudadela), displayed on July 9th. The third place was awarded to Manuel Osuna Oliva’s “Zoloriscos,” presented on July 11th. The San Fermín Fireworks International Contest has been a staple of the San Fermín Festival for over 20 years. This year, the authors’ last names were added to each fireworks show to…
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