The Deputación launches the new Strategic Plan: 16 million euros and 270 actions to boost tourism and turn Rías Baixas into a smart destination
The Strategic Tourism Plan 2021-2023 of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra, which is the starting point of the roadmap of the institution aimed at boosting the sector after the consequences of COVID-19, has begun its journey. President Carmela Silva presented the main lines of the document at the Pazo provincial in an event attended by mayors and members from the sector. At the event, several representatives from different fields – culture, wine, and gastronomy and nature tourism – shared their opinions on the current situation and their expectations for the future. The artist Najla Shami performed music for the event.
Up to 16 million euros will be allocated to the Strategic Plan, besides the European funds. It includes 46 action plans and 269 operational actions. Its main objective is "to turn the province of Pontevedra into the first territory certified as a smart tourist destination", the president of the provincial institution pointed out.
Promoting the Rías Baixas-province of Pontevedra brand
In addition, the plan is aimed at promoting tourism as a means to improve the locals’ quality of life and to consolidate the positioning of Rías Baixas as a destination with its own identity, sustainable, of high quality and unique. All this is based on four main axes: promotion and communication; a differentiated tourism offer; competitiveness and reactivation; and smartness in destination.
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"This pandemic has highlighted the need for digital transformation and the resilience of sustainable and green destinations. We know we have a valuable treasure, and we must manage it cleverly and sharing responsibility. We live in a paradise and we must take care of it, preserve it and improve it as a heritage for the future”, the president added.
The drafting of the document involved a work schedule that began last November and included 12 theme-based working groups, which were highly attended.
Digitalisation, sustainability and experiences
The representatives of the sector who participated in the presentation session discussed key issues for tourism recovering, such as digitalisation, sustainability, experiences linked to culture and the importance of the wine and gastronomy value chain.
Adolfo Neira, from the company EOSA, who is in charge of drafting the plan, emphasised the importance of technology "in this uncertain situation" and defined it as "the heart and soul of the plan". Ana Vázquez, manager of Alecrín, and Goretti Álvarez, from the Silabario restaurant, talked about sustainability, stressing the importance of "taking care of nature, the tangible and intangible heritage so that in the long term we can consolidate the tourism sector", and also the importance of local produce and land protection "to guarantee a high-quality, green and first-class tourist destination".
Finally, Jordi Lauren, as representative of Rías Baixas Fests, and Ángel Sánchez, co-director of the Play-Doc festival of the FilmFest, claimed the importance of culture to attract tourism. Lauren highlighted the role "of festivals as ideal elements to start the tourist, social and economic reactivation ahead of us" and Sánchez stressed the importance of cultural events "to innovate and build networks to boost local development and attract tourists”.
