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Catalonia Officially Nominated World Region of Gastronomy 2025

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Catalonia Officially Nominated World Region of Gastronomy 2025 - TRAVELINDEX - TOP25RESTAURANTS.comBarcelona, Spain, November 7, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Catalonia was officially awarded the title of World Region of Gastronomy 2025 by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) for their commitment to work across sectors to ensure a healthy, safe and resilient food future through sustainable actions.

The award ceremony took place on 8 November 2023 in the framework of the Gastronomic Forum Barcelona, and saw the participation of Councillor for Business and Labour of the Government of Catalonia, Roger Torrent i Ramió; Councillor for Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, David Mascort i Subiranas; and local stakeholders involved in the World Region of Gastronomy candidacy and programme, including President of the Catalan Academy of Gastronomy and Nutrition, Carles Villarubí, and Director General of Alícia Foundation, Toni Massanés.

President of IGCAT, Diane Dodd PhD officially presented the award to the regional stakeholders and applauded “the many, many people in Catalonia that have been working for decades to ensure that Catalan cuisine, culture and culinary heritage is available and relevant in the minds, hearts and stomachs of Catalan citizens. This is undoubtedly why Catalonia is such an interesting destination for foodie travellers. Well-deserved and congratulations!”

Councillor Torrent explained that with this award “we are opening up a new scenario for Catalonia and we are positioning ourselves around the world as a reference food and wine destination, generating new economic opportunities in the territory while involving different sectors, from the primary to the restaurants, through the food industry. The World Gastronomy Region title reinforces the transformation towards a more sustainable, balanced and diversified tourism model, which we are promoting through our National Commitment for Responsible Tourism.”

Councillor Mascort emphasised that “from now on we will start working to show the world that gastronomy and agriculture are two sides of the same coin,” and highlighted that “behind the kitchens that dazzle the world, there is a farming community committed to environmental, economic and social sustainability.

“We will be ambitious and we will work to set up a programme and a legacy for Catalonia. We have a unique proposal not only because of our culinary uniqueness, but also because it reflects every corner of our territory and its people,” he concluded.

Moderated by gastronomic journalist, Carme Gasull, the event was closed by a conversation with chef of Disfrutar restaurant, Oriol Castro and livestock farmer Mònica Soler, from Masiets Perich who offered their perspectives as regional stakeholders of

Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy 2025 manifesto

During the event, the Government of Catalonia launched a manifesto to which regional stakeholders and citizens can sign up in order to join and support the World Region of Gastronomy 2025 programme. The document includes a series of commitments such as (to name a few). promoting the heritage linked to gastronomy and the agri-food landscapes; promoting Catalan cuisine; opting for a change of model towards regenerative and quality food and wine tourism; promote the professionalization of the food sector; and encouraging the circular economy. The manifesto is accessible on the dedicated website together with a link for stakeholders to sign up.

New initiatives to position Catalonia as a benchmark for food and wine tourism

The event marked the starting point for the preparation of new initiatives that, throughout the coming year, will be organised across the region with the aim of highlighting food production, Catalan cuisine and Catalonia as a quality tourist destination. These include for example:

The International Week of the World Gastronomy Region, to take place in the main cities and countries hosting delegations of the Government of Catalonia, and which will include various activities such as promotions in shops or restaurants, wine tastings, cultural evenings, debates, food and wine experiences, chef exchanges, and many more.

Àpat Catalunya, a people’s dinner to be celebrated in an emblematic street or public space in Barcelona, featuring the most iconic dishes and recipes of Catalan gastronomy.

The Som Gastronomia Tour 2025, a series of presentations to be held in the main outbound markets of food and wine tourism in Catalonia, aimed at operators, the press and influencers, with a technological and innovative component.

Moreover, 130 unique Catalan landscapes and their gastronomic offer will be highlighted; activities will be organised to connect art, sport, culture and Catalan cuisine; the National Food Awards will be promoted; and an intense international agenda will be offered so that Catalonia’s farming, food companies and gastronomy can be presented across the globe.

Gastronomic Forum Barcelona: the perfect setting for Catalonia’s renewed commitment to sustainability

A point of reference for professionals in the hospitality and gastronomy sector, the Gastronomic Forum Barcelona 2023 focused on transformative cuisine and its role in preserving biodiversity and boosting social transformation.

Celebrated on 6-8 November at the Montjuïc venue of Fira Barcelona, the event included around 120 activities that involved over 200 chefs, pastry chefs, sommeliers and other experts in gastronomy. Many of them presented their initiatives supporting the use of local products, the revival of traditional techniques, and the reduction of food waste, among other urgent challenges.

Catalonia’s path to the title

In 2016, Catalonia was among the first two regions to be awarded European Region of Gastronomy by IGCAT. During that year, over 500 stakeholders in the region committed to promote Catalan gastronomy and celebrated over 500 activities related to local products, local cuisine and the territory. Eager to deepen the work started in 2016, Catalonia presented their bid for the World Region of Gastronomy 2025 title.

After evaluating the bid book Catalunya, the European Mosaic of Gastronomy, presented on 7 February 2023, a jury of international IGCAT experts visited the region (8-12 May 2023) to meet local stakeholders and assess Catalonia’s readiness to hold the World Region of Gastronomy title.

The jury was very impressed by how the legacy from Catalonia, European Region of Gastronomy 2016 has reinforced the benefits of inter-sectoral working to ensure that gastronomy, culture, food production and biodiversity have a strong focus in the region. They also appreciated the detailed action plan presented by the region including projects, events and development proposals for the title year and beyond, to ensure a legacy of the Award.

On this basis, they recommended the region for the title to the IGCAT Board, that officially approved Catalonia to be awarded World Region of Gastronomy 2025.

Thanks to this title, the Catalan Government will invest 9 million euros to support a series of new initiatives and projects with the aim to position Catalonia as worldwide food and wine reference.

The Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy 2025 candidacy and programme have been created by a cross-sectoral consortium including stakeholders from the public, private, third and knowledge sectors. Founding stakeholders include: Directorate-General for Tourism (Ministry of Business and Labour, Government of Catalonia); Catalan Tourist Board; Directorate-General for Food Industries, Food Quality and Gastronomy (Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, Government of Catalonia); PRODECA; Catalan Academy of Gastronomy and Nutrition; Alícia Foundation; elBUlliFoundation.

About the World and European Regions of Gastronomy
Candidate and awarded World/European Regions of Gastronomy, guided by IGCAT, are working together to strengthen food security through the celebration of distinctive food cultures; create employment by stimulating creativity and gastronomic innovation; nourish children and adults through culinary and cultural education; driving environmental sustainability in tourism, hospitality and agricultural sectors; supporting balance and sustainable tourism practices; highlighting and supporting expertise from within rural and urban communities, creating connections and sharing good practices; and contributing to community health and well-being.

About IGCAT
IGCAT aims to empower local communities by raising awareness of the importance of protecting and promoting distinct regional food, culture, arts and natural assets as part of sustainable and balanced tourism and development strategies. This is essential to safeguarding our planet, health, wellness and local economies.

IGCAT is a non-profit institute established in 2012, working with regional stakeholder consortiums in the fields of gastronomy, culture, arts and tourism. It counts on the expertise of a worldwide network of experts and works in partnership with specialised intergovernmental organisations.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism Returns to San Sebastián

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UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism Returns to San Sebastián - TRAVELINDEX - TOP25RESTAURANTS.comDonostia-San Sebastian, Spain, September 13, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism will return to Donostia-San Sebastian in Spain (5-7 October) to focus on how tourism can foster rural development, build economic resilience, and preserve cultural heritage.

Held under the theme ‘Gastronomy Tourism: Back to the roots‘, the Forum will put the spotlight on the connections between product, gastronomy and tourism. Over three days, industry professionals, leading experts, and institutional representatives will engage in live debates, keynote speeches, hands-on workshops and live cooking demonstrations with local and international chefs and producers.

Top forum for sector leaders

The event will welcome many of the leading figures of global gastronomy and tourism, such as Qu Dongyu, General Director of FAO; Paolo Di Croce, Director General of Slow Food (Italy); Célia Tunc, Secretary General of Collège Culinaire de France; Fatmata Binta, winner of the BCWP 2022 and who will be appointed on the occasion UNWTO Ambassador for Responsible Tourism ; and confirmed speakers from Brazil, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Italy, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Spain and Switzerland.

Furthermore, forum attendees will have the opportunity to choose from five different excursions to experience and savor the local gastronomy: “Rioja Alavesa, excellence in wine tourism”, “Rural flavours of the Basque Country and the Idiazabal territory”, “Urola Kosta: fishing villages, landscapes and dream flavours”, “A sea of mountains, Gorbeialdea and Arratia Valley” and “Bizkaia – Urdaibai coast”.

Underscoring the significance of preserving culinary traditions, this edition will also commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Mediterranean Diet’s inclusion on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Additionally, the side-event “Culinary Plaza” organized by Basque Culinary Center will spotlight culinary specialties from destinations including Azerbaijan, Botswana, Porto (Portugal), Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe. Residents around Donostia-San Sebastián will be able to access the Forum’s venue at Tabakalera.

In addition, within the framework of the Forum, a UNWTO Gastronomy Pitch Challenge will also be held alongside Culinary Action! (the entrepreneurship area of Basque Culinary Center), where selected finalists from UNWTO Startup Competitions will pitch their technology-driven innovative proposals and solutions for gastronomy tourism. In order to welcome and connect participants from around the world, the Forum will be held in a hybrid format.

Advancing sustainability

Building on the Global Roadmap on Food Waste Reduction in Tourism, launched during the previous edition of the Forum, this year’s conversations will advance discussions on reducing food waste, promoting circularity, and combating climate change within gastronomy tourism. Sustainable practices, encompassing the reduction of carbon footprint, the promotion of seasonal and local produce, and the shift to circular economy models, will be showcased.

The Forum has been co-organized by UNWTO and the Basque Culinary Center since 2015 with the aim of promoting the exchange of experiences between experts in tourism and gastronomy, identify good practices and promote gastronomy tourism as a driver of sustainable development.

Professionals interested in attending the 8th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism can register online now.

The Forum’s has been presented by Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of the UNWTO; Joxe Mari Aizega, General Director of Basque Culinary Center; Félix De Paz García, Deputy Director General for Tourism Cooperation and Competitiveness of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism; Javier Hurtado, Minister of Tourism, Trade and Consumer Affairs of the Basque Government; and Azahara Domínguez, Deputy of Mobility, Tourism and Territorial Planning, Provincial Council of Guipuzkoa.

This year’s Forum is organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Basque Culinary Center (BCC), with the support of the Basque Government, the Provincial Council of Guipuzkoa, the City Council of San Sebastián, and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

New Summit to Galvanise Policies on Culture and Heritage in Tourism

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New Summit to Galvanise Policies on Culture and Heritage in Tourism - TRAVELINDEXEarly bird registrations are only available to 7 July for the new annual global leadership summit on culture and heritage in tourism

A dynamic new leadership summit will grapple with major challenges and opportunities of culture and heritage in tourism. Event organiser, the World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage, invites stakeholders to make their voices heard at the new annual summit, the first of which takes place in Valencia, Spain, 24-25 September.

A list of respected high-level speakers from national government organisations, lending institutions, heritage organisations, tourism departments, local communities, academia, and private sector representatives will convene for a day and a half in Valencia. They will focus on creating viable businesses and building better livelihoods for people living in heritage communities connected to tourism.

The aim of the summit is to better conserve and promote responsible cultural and heritage tourism around the world – and for tourism to be the protector of the world’s culture and heritage.

Key sessions include the case for investment in heritage destinations, balancing tourism growth with heritage conservation, the latest global trends in cultural and heritage in tourism, better capacity building, training and education. There will be a session when anyone in the delegation can contribute.

The World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage (WTACH) will present the Summit with host organisation Visit Valencia in the heart of Valencia, Spain – Europe’s Green Capital 2024.

“We believe that focused efforts can improve the lives and wellbeing of local communities and custodians through better implementation of best practices,” said Nigel Fell, CEO of WTACH.

A sample of the stellar line-up of international guest speakers already confirmed includes:

Rajan Data – BBC, London as Key Moderator, Dawn Drew – Summit MC, Global Tourism Destination Specialist – New York; Anne Grady – Senior Advisor to the European Parliament – Brussels; Imad Barrakad, Chairman SMIT (Morocco Agency for Tourism Development) – Rabat, Morocco; Bruce Poon Tip – Founder G Adventures, Toronto, Karl Burrows – Head of Maori Tourism Development – Tourism New Zealand – Auckland; Debbie Flynn – Managing Partner and Global Practice Leader – Finn Partners – London; Emma Nardi – President, International Council of Museums (ICOM) – Rome; Judy Kepher-Gona, Founder, Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda – Nairobi; Scott Wayne – President – SWA Development – Sustainable Destinations – Washington DC; Nada Hosking – National Geographic Explorer & Social Impact Leader – Austin, Texas; Miguel Angel Perez – Brands & Markets Director, Visit Valencia, Valencia.

WTACH Chairman, Chris Flynn, said the Global Leadership Summit programme has been designed to attract representatives from governments, tourism boards, leading private sector decision makers, tour operators, corporate sponsors, community representatives, NGOs, media and others.

“With the summit theme ‘Celebrating our Past – Securing our Future,’ our programme encourages attendees to contribute to new directions, priorities and attitudes towards culture and heritage in tourism,” said Flynn.

While the summit formally concludes on the evening of 25 September, there will be optional training on the morning of the 26th for culture and heritage tourism practitioners. Spaces are limited to 25.

An early bird registration for the event is only available until 7 July. Visit https://wtachgls.com.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Málaga Selected Global Headquarters for the Future of Tourism Coalition

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Málaga Selected Global Headquarters for the Future of Tourism Coalition - TOURISMSPAIN.org - TRAVELINDEXMalaga, Spain, January 24, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Málaga will become the seat of the first ever Future of Tourism Coalition (FoTC) global headquarters and will act as the FoTC’s European hub, following a multi-year agreement announced today.

The Coalition of six global tourism NGOs, which formed in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, has not, until now, had a physical office or dedicated staff resources. The Málaga HQ will enable the Coalition to form strong partnerships with businesses, governments, academic institutions and NGOs, and work with these stakeholders to advance a more sustainable tourism system in the Andalucía region. The headquarters will be hosted by the City Council of Málaga, the Chamber of Commerce of Málaga, the Provincial Government of Málaga through Turismo Costa del Sol, and the Regional Government of Andalucía. This headquarters will also provide a hub for broader project activity in Spain, Europe and the Mediterranean basin.

Málaga will be supported by the Coalition’s six global NGOs (the Center for Responsible Travel, Destination Stewardship Center, Green Destinations, Sustainable Travel International, Tourism Cares, and the Travel Foundation), each with specialist knowledge and tools, to shape a workplan for 2023-24 and beyond. This is an opportunity to put into practice the 13 guiding principles of the Coalition, which put destination needs at the centre of tourism decision-making. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate the potential of destination-level activity to deliver on the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, as Málaga also announces its intention to join this initiative.

Jeremy Sampson, Chair of the Future of Tourism Coalition, commented:
“This is a hugely exciting and logical next step for the Future of Tourism Coalition. Málaga and the Andalucía region will become our hub for innovation, a testbed for new and existing ideas that demonstrate the Coalition’s guiding principles in action. Together we will show the benefits of a balanced, collaborative, big picture approach to tourism management, drawing on the considerable expertise across the partnership and building on the significant range of initiatives already in place in Málaga. We believe in Málaga’s commitment to sustainable change, demonstrated by their strong candidacy to host the Expo2027 on sustainable cities of the future.”

Arturo Bernal, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport at the Autonomous Government of Andalusia, said:
“One of the variables that makes Andalusia and the Costa del Sol a worldwide reference is its capacity for innovation and its ability to adapt. At this time, when the industry is immersed in a change of cycle, the fact that Malaga has been chosen as the headquarters for this initiative is great news that ratifies our leadership.”

Jacobo Florido, Deputy Mayor and Tourism Counselor said:
“By providing the Coalition’s headquarters, we support its mission to build the case for a better kind of tourism, while also accelerating Málaga into a global sustainable leading position. We have come a long way on our sustainability journey, and now look forward to working with the global leaders and other worldwide forward-thinking organisations that are part of the Future of Tourism community, to develop tourism that brings real added value to Málaga, as a place to live, work, study, play and, of course, to visit.”

Sergio Cuberos, President of the Málaga Chamber of Commerce said:
“The present and future of tourism depends on destinations which incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals into their management and business strategy. For this reason, it is extremely interesting and appropriate that Málaga hosts the Future of Tourism Coalition initiative, as it will represent a magnificent opportunity to inspire markets that are looking for sustainable travel, and thus demonstrate our responsibility and the social role of our companies in tourism activity.”

Further information on the full programme of work that will be undertaken in Málaga and Andalucía will be announced early next year. The experiences and lessons learned from the partnership will be shared widely through the Coalition’s global networks, including its community of more than 700 like-minded organisations that have so far aligned with the guiding principles. There are also plans for a Future of Tourism Summit event to be held in Málaga in 2024.

The Future of Tourism Coalition is a collaborative effort to chart a new, more sustainable direction for tourism and shift the status quo. The Coalition is comprised of six non governmental organisations, the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), Destination Stewardship Center, Green Destinations, Sustainable Travel International, Tourism Cares, and the Travel Foundation. The Coalition is pursuing a shared global mission to place destination needs at the centre of tourism’s new future. Through commitment to their 13 Guiding Principles, the greater travel industry and destination agencies can align around a path forward for a more sustainable future for tourism.

Málaga Tourism Board is the institution in charge of developing sustainable tourism in the vibrant city of Málaga, being considered by the industry experts as the most rising destination in Europe for cosmopolitan and cultural travellers due to its unique mix of experiences. Málaga Tourism Board deploys its policies and strategies based on the principles of sustainable tourism and UNSDGs, improving the tourism offer of the city, and focused on the authentic roots, heritage, and lifestyle of an international city with more than 3000 years of history.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

GSTC2022 Global Conference in Seville Successfully Concluded

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GSTC2022 Global Conference in Seville Successfully Concluded - TRAVELINDEXSeville, Spain, December 23, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The GSTC2022 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference that took place on December 12th-15th in Seville, Andalusia, Spain, brought together 350 delegates from 61 countries, along with hundreds of viewers that watched the live broadcasting of the conference. The conference was held at FIBES Sevilla, the city’s Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Participants included international and regional tourism stakeholders involved in the development and promotion of sustainable tourism; including the public sector, hotels, tour operators, academia, development agencies, NGOs, consultants, and more. International participants came from Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

The Conference themes were: (A) Tourism Adaptation to Climate Change; (B) Mainstreaming Sustainability Standards; (C) Destination Stewardship and (D) Green Mobility & Accessibility.

Mr. Luigi Cabrini, Chair, GSTC opened the conference with the question “will tourism become more sustainable after the pandemic?”

“Our organization is now 15 years old. Starting from the first version of the Hotel and Tour Operators Criteria in 2008 we expanded and consolidated a system of standards that is now recognized as the main international reference. The GSTC Industry Criteria and the GSTC Destination Criteria identify the key issues that define tourism sustainability and provide the tools to progress toward a better balance between the positive benefits that a well-managed tourism can generate and its negative impacts. The GSTC membership today includes tourism authorities of over 20 countries, together with leaders of the private sectors, NGOs, universities, destinations and many others. This variety is a strength for GSTC, as different views, experiences and interests guide us to set priorities and strategies aimed at practical responses to real needs,” said GSTC Chair, Mr. Luigi Cabrini.

“The key for a real shift is to build a system where the number of hotels, destinations and other tourism businesses that gained a certification reach a critical number making them effectively competitive in the market. We work closely with some of the more relevant Online Travel Agencies to build a system where travelers can easily identify a product that is truly sustainable and to book it. Many tourists, as responsible citizens, make choices based on their ethical values and are ready to spend more when an hotel or a destination cares to save energy and water, to promote protection of biodiversity or respect for local cultures. But sustainable tourism is also likely to offer better quality products by being more experiential and emotionally engaging. We need to unlock its market potential to effectively mainstream it,” concluded Mr. Cabrini (full speech).

“In my opinion, for the topics that will be addressed in this conference is one of the most relevant events of the year. As you know tourism activity has recovered strongly in many parts of the world. Here in Spain, international tourism expenditure in 2022 will be just under the record levels of 2019. And although the level of uncertainty is high for 2023, we expect to consolidate this recovery,” said Mr. Miguel Sanz, Director General, Turespaña. “However, once the worst effect of the pandemic in the travel industry are hopefully, finally over, we have to confront challenges that were already here in the industry agenda in 2019 and have now accelerated.”

Speakers from across the world shared insights and discussed the following topics: climate change influence on tourism operation, carbon neutral cities, how national tourism bodies use existing sustainable tourism standards, sustainable luxury hospitality, sustainability in corporate & business travel, businesses influencing supply chain, interpretation of cultural heritage, Türkiye Sustainable Tourism Program, the role of standards and certification in destination stewardship, setting sustainability goals by trade association together with national tourism bodies, green mobility & accessibility. During the conference, two workshops were carried out for the development of MICE Criteria and Attraction Criteria. In addition, the GSTC Italian Working Group was formed to discuss the development of sustainable tourism and hospitality in Italy.

Prior to the conference, three GSTC Sustainable Tourism Courses took place in Sevilla, two in English and one in Spanish. 84 industry professionals joined the training from across Europe and globally. Using the GSTC Industry Criteria and GSTC Destination Criteria as the foundation, the training class covered various topics relevant to our industry and the sustainability challenges and opportunities we are facing today. An academic symposium was also held in conjunction with Global Sustainable Tourism Conference for the first time. The symposium provided a forum for researchers and academics to share and discuss current issues in sustainable tourism.

At the closing ceremony, three GSTC Conferences were announced – GSTC2023 Antalya (May 2023), GSTC2024 Sweden (April 2024), and GSTC2024 Singapore (November 2024). The conference ended with a farewell cocktail dinner and private tour at Real Alcazar for GSTC2022 delegates only. After the 2-day conference, participants joined a complimentary tour of Sevilla, including a visit to Las Setas, Santa Cruz, Museo de Bellas Artes, and Plaza de España.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO and Madrid Host Experts Meeting Cultural Tourism Management

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UNWTO and Madrid Host Experts Meeting Cultural Tourism Management - TRAVELINDEXMadrid, Spain, November 7, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO and the Comunidad de Madrid have reunited 18 experts from all around the world to share ideas, debate and explore the challenges and trends of cultural tourism.

The meeting focused on the strategic management of cultural resources for the destinations, including the challenge of managing tourist flows through different routes or combined products. Experts also discussed on how to promote lesser-known destinations which are outside of the major tourist circuits as a way to avoid the saturation of main touristic attractions. In this sense, for example, the experts examined crucial role of tourism promotion, marketing strategies, and public-private partnerships for the development of cultural tourism.

The debates focused on the identification of aspects that are jeopardizing the sustainability of cultural tourism. This brings up the eternal dilemma between conservation and development, and to what extent it is legitimate to exploit the cultural values of a territory for the socio-economic growth.

Ion Vilcu, Director of the UNWTO Affiliate Members Department, highlighted the importance of cultural values for the promotion of destinations. He added “UNWTO is providing solutions to the conflicts that tourist saturation is generating in major destinations and cultural sites, as well as to promote the development of tourism in lesser-known sites, stimulating their conservation and fostering the positive effects that tourism generates in terms of socioeconomic development”.

Daniel Martinez, Deputy Regional Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Region of Madrid, highlighted the opportunity for the Region of Madrid to host such an important international meeting. “We are very pleased to facilitate reflection on the region’s essential tourism model. We are experiencing a large increase in high-value tourists who visit us attracted by our cultural and heritage offer, which is why it is essential to understand the trends of cultural tourism and to promote its sustainable growth, generating employment and attracting investment.”

During the last 3 days these international experts have been working to draw up conclusions and set out recommendations for cultural and tourism destination management that will be featured in a report to be presented next January at the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR). On this occasion, experts also had the opportunity to visit the Picasso/Chanel Exhibition at the National Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza, along with the Royal Site and Town of Aranjuez.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Supports the Promotion of Tourism in Tenerife

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UNWTO Supports the Promotion of Tourism in Tenerife - TRAVELINDEX - TOURISMSPAINSanta Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, September 22, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has welcomed a delegation from Turismo de Tenerife (SPET) to draft a roadmap for future collaborations.

One of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is one of Europe’s most popular destinations, welcoming 2.7 million tourists in 2021 alone. The destination has significant touristic potential, and it is aiming to develop its sector in line with the values and priorities of UNWTO.

The official visit of Affiliate Member SPET to the UNWTO headquarters provided an opportunity to clarify the benefits of resources already available to the Affiliate Members, network and discuss institutional cooperation in the preparation of events.

Tenerife is one of Europe’s most popular destinations, welcoming 2.7 million tourists in 2021 alone

Among the topics discussed, Turismo de Tenerife presented its plans for “Global Summit Turismo” scheduled for 2024, while UNWTO presented the initiative “Best Tourism Villages” recognizing outstanding examples of rural tourism destinations with recognized cultural and natural assets, preserving and promoting community-based values, products and lifestyle in order to encourage the participation of Tenerife.

Tenerife offers a wide variety of attractions ranging from sports tourism, including hiking, climbing, biking routes and surfing, to astrotourism and gastrotourism.

About SPET – TURISMO DE TENERIFE

SPET – TURISMO DE TENERIFE dedicates its main activity to the realization of actions for the promotion of tourism on the island of Tenerife. Thus, it works in three areas within the island, which pursue the increase of our quality, competitiveness, and sustainability as a tourist destination. We coordinate improvement works with other entities and institutions, we dynamize areas of strategic interest that have reached periods of maturity, and we work in the creation and dynamization of tourist products in accordance with our potential and with the demand of our clients.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Villa Le Blanc by Gran Meliá, First Carbon Neutral Luxury Hotel in Menorca

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Villa Le Blanc by Gran Meliá, First Carbon Neutral Luxury Hotel in Menorca - TRAVELINDEXMenorca, Spain, July 18, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Villa Le Blanc, a 5-star luxury resort operated by Gran Meliá, will open at the end of July as the latest member of the Leading Hotels of the World, the only such hotel on the island of Menorca, and the Spanish hotel brand’s first energy-efficient carbon neutral hotel.

The fifteenth hotel in the Gran Meliá brand’s collection offers a choice of outstanding dining options that pay tribute to Menorcan cuisine and the island way of life, exquisitely designed rooms and suites with private pools, and a wellness area and spa operated by the French firm Anne Semonin.

The Villa Le Blanc Hotel boasts an idyllic natural setting on Santo Tomás Beach on the Migjorn coast, halfway between Mahón and Ciutadella. An ideal location for discovering all the cultural and natural attractions of the island of Menorca, which was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993.

The renovation of what was once the Sol Beach House Hotel was led by the architect Álvaro Sans, and combines simple and contemporary design with luxurious details. The hotel provides a total of 159 rooms, including 14 Premium Rooms and 86 Supreme Rooms. The Penthouse Suite, the Swim-Up Master Suite and Presidential Suite offer the widest range of luxury amenities, as well as sea views which can be enjoyed from their private balconies and private pools. Decorated predominantly in white and blue, with the large terraces and porches that are typical of Mediterranean island architecture, the spaces are designed to achieve a seamless merging of outdoor and indoor areas.

“Villa Le Blanc is inspired by the vernacular architecture of the island villages. Among other features, special prominence is given to the Menorcan arches and the whitewashed walls so typical of local houses. From a technical point of view, we have rescued the traditional use of tiles, which have been used through the ages in Menorca to combat the rainy winters and which traditionally were always painted white to reflect the heat in summer,” explains Álvaro Sans, from the ASAH studio, architect of Villa Le Blanc.

The hotel aims to achieve a carbon neutral footprint by incorporating facilities and technologies that will enable it to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 87%. In addition, the hotel will explore alternatives to offset the remaining emissions and thus ensure its full carbon neutrality status (net zero), contributing to Meliá’s decarbonisation objectives.

“Villa Le Blanc is a dream come true for our company,” said Gabriel Escarrer, Vice President and CEO of Meliá. “A project like this allows us to move forward towards hotel decarbonisation. It is also in such a special place as the Biosphere Reserve of Menorca, making it one of the most tangible results of our commitment to a hotel model based on excellence, responsibility and sustainability.”

The hotel dining facilities pay tribute to local products, with the exquisite cuisine in the different restaurants using the finest fresh ingredients from the island farms.

The Menorcan S’Amarador Restaurant is an iconic venue in the town of Ciutadella, widely recognised as one of the top seafood restaurants on the island. Famous for a wine cellar with more than a hundred fine wines and for working with only the finest local produce to prepare its delicious rice dishes and seafood bisques, accompanied by the freshest fish from the local fish market, with a particular focus on one of the culinary highlights of the Balearic sea: the local red lobster.

Located on the first floor, and in the terrace looking to the sea, S’Amarador offers a tribute to the cuisine of the mother restaurant in Ciutadella. The restaurant preserves and adapts all the traditions of the ancient fishermen’s taverns that used to be located throughout the port area in olden times.

In addition to S’Amarador, the restaurateur Joan Canals brings all of his expertise and the personality of the Ulises Restaurant to a new venue named Cru. Reflecting the purest essence of the ingredients that are harvested from the island’s land and sea, Canals perfectly combines fresh local fish, shellfish, vegetables and olive oils with the most contemporary techniques and presentation.

For travellers seeking greater harmony and well-being, the hotel is also home to a temple to health and beauty thanks to Anne Semonin Paris. With treatments and experiences based on vegan cosmetics and natural products, this is the third spa in Spain for Anne Semonin, joining a number of spas in select locations in the most exclusive hotels in the world, including luxury resorts in Japan, Hong Kong, Doha, Greece and the Maldives.

Villa Le Blanc is also launching a new line of in-room amenities with bathroom products and aromas designed by the Carner Barcelona artisan perfumers. A new experience for the senses that combines to perfection with the splendour and attractiveness of the Mediterranean.

The hotel is owned by the company Victoria Hotels & Resorts, created in 2021 by Meliá Hotels International, Bankinter Investment and other investors who are customers of the bank, and also with GMA acting as the managing partner. All of the partners involved in the project share a strong commitment to sustainability, as shown in the exemplary transformation of this iconic hotel.

Average price: From 750 euros per night.
Number of suites and villas: 45.
Price of the suites: 1,200 euros per night.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Real Club de Golf El Prat Receives Biosphere Certificate

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TOP25GOLFCOURSES.com - Real Club de Golf El Prat Receives Biosphere Certificate - TRAVELINDEXTerrassa-Barcelona, Spain, July 11, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Real Club de Golf El Prat gains the Biosphere distinction thanks to its continuous work based on its dynamic corporate sustainability management plan. The certification and distinction Biosphere of the program “Commitment to Tourism Sustainability Destination Barcelona Biosphere”, was given to Real Club de Golf El Prat because of all the effort put into making the business of golf a sustainable one.

The project, born in 2017, has been led by the Barcelona Provincial Council, the Responsible Tourism Institute (ITR), the Barcelona Business bureau, the Barcelona Council, and the Barcelona’s Tourism Bureau.

Its goal is to recognize those companies that work towards a respectful management of the resources of the environment and the culture as well as a social and economic return to the city of Barcelona. The Commitment is based on a methodology that works around the 17 goals of the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda.

What is more, the Real Club de Golf El Prat, has also obtained the Safe Travels certificate. This certificate is the first one approved worldwide, and allows companies, entities and destinations that carry out prevention and hygiene actions against COVID-19, to be recognized in any country in the world, with the aim of generating safe spaces for travellers.

The commitment to the Biosphere responds both to the desire to promote more sensible tourism by tour operators, as well as to the wish of visitors to travel respecting the environment as much as possible. The deployment of these measures means a new kind of tourism, which increases the competitiveness of Barcelona as a destination, formed by the Capital and the 12 counties of its province.

The Destination Barcelona receives the Platinum Certification

Destination Barcelona has today become the first destination in the world to receive the Platinum Certification thanks to the commitment of its institutions to promote a kind of tourism that is respectful and committed to the environment. In 2011, Barcelona was the first urban destination in the world to obtain the Biosphere certification. The Biosphere Platinum distinction recognizes not only the commitment of the administration to ensure that companies make sustainable efforts, but also that those companies execute the changes that the Commitment ensures.
Real Club de Golf El Prat is proud to be part of a movement that promotes quality tourism while taking care of the environment.

– Among the large number of tournaments organized at El Prat there are competitions such as the Audi Tournament, Audemars Piguet Tournament, or internationally amateur championships such as the Barcelona Championship or the Kings’s Cup that can only be played in high-level courses as the Real Club de Golf El Prat.
– Dating back to 1912, Real Club de Golf El Prat is one of the most renowned clubs in Spain and was granted ‘Real’ or royal status, by King Alfonso XIII after his visit.
– The renowned club has hosted the Spanish Open on 10 occasions: 1956, 1959, 1963, 1971, 1978, 1981, 1998, 1999, 2011 and 2015.
– The current 45 holes were designed by Greg Norman over an exciting mix of three highly acclaimed courses: the Pink – highly positioned in the most trusted and authoritative international rankings – Yellow and Green.
– It is listed Top20 by Golf World magazine’s coveted ‘Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe’ rankings and also by National Club Golfer’s ‘Top 100 Golf Resorts in Continental Europe’.
– The multi-award-winning El Prat was recently named as one of the 125 Platinum Clubs of the World – Five Star Private Club, as well as being granted the Golden Plaque of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit.
– It has played host to more than 250 top-level national and international championships, including European Tour events, with top stars of the calibre of Sergio Garcia, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, José María Olazábal and Tommy Fleetwood taking part.
– The club has hosted some of the biggest names in golf, with Spanish legends Severiano Ballesteros and José Maria Olazábal, eight-time Major winner Tom Watson and European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn among its roll call of previous winners, while Masters champion Sergio Garcia and Pablo Larrazábal are both members.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

World’s Largest Truffle Tasting Event with Chefs from Eight Countries

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World's Largest Truffle Tasting with Chefs from Eight Countries - TOP25RESTAURANTS.com - TRAVELINDEXSoria, Spain, April 26, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The World’s largest truffle tasting event was held in Soria earlier this year. An international jury evaluate the teams. A special prize called “Pequetrufa” was be awarded by a children’s jury. The contest had parallel activities open to all audiences. The objective was to position at an international level, the truffle in Castilla y León, a leading community in myco-tourism.

The acting Minister of Education, Rocío Lucas, accompanied by the president of the Soria Provincial Council, Benito Serrano, and the Councilor for Tourism of the capital of Soria, Yolanda Santos, presented the III International Contest “Cooking with Truffles”, which was be held in Soria.

The international competition, organized by the Government of Castilla Y Leon with the collaboration of the City Council and the Provincial Council of Soria, has as its objective the dissemination of a mycological product such as the truffle, one of the most emblematic of haute cuisine, appreciated by chefs all over the world and especially in the province of Soria, with the largest truffle farm in the world, with more than 600 hectares of mycorrhizal oaks.

Rocío Lucas has presented this new edition, framed in the International Gastronomy Festival of Castilla y León, which alternates every two years with the International Contest “Cooking with Truffles” and the International Congress of Mycological Cuisine “Soria Gastronómica”, which will be held in autumn of the next year. The Minister highlighted “the important effort made by the Board in the organization of both events, which are helping the international positioning of mycotourism in Soria and Castilla y León as a great reference, while at the same time betting on its repercussion at the tourist level, through the promotion of gastronomic products in which Castilla y León maintains an important leadership”.

The III International Competition “Cooking with Truffles” reinforces, in the words of the Minister, “the commitment to the gastronomy of Castilla y León, as well as the determined support for all professionals in the sector, with a defined strategy based on specialized tourism products of quality that are also sustainable with the environment”. In this sense, it must be remembered that the annual economic impact of myco-tourism in Castilla y León is estimated at around 33 million euros, with more than 250,000 myco-tourists per year at harvest time in the community, according to the latest data published by the Fundación Cesefor.

International competition
The III International Competition “Cooking with Truffles” took place in Soria with different promotional activities open to the public, with the culinary competition at the Palacio de la Audiencia, with the participation of eight teams of top-level chefs from Italy, Ecuador, Thailand, USA, Mexico, Slovenia, France and Spain.

The representative of the Spanish team was be the Soria chef Juan Carlos Benito, trained at the Soria School of Hospitality, currently responsible for ‘Grumer Catering’ and winner, on several occasions, of the first prize at the Abejar Truffle Fair. Giuseppe D’Errico, with two Michelin stars, participated from Italy; Representing Ecuador was be Alejandro Chamorro, who has entered the list of the 50 best restaurants in Latin America; Anthony Burd of Tony’s restaurant in Bangkok represented Thailand. From the USA, the Top Chef Masters competitor, chef Debbie Gold, participated; Eduardo Morali has been runner-up in Top Chef Mexico; Jure Dretnik, chef de cuisine at the two-Michelin-star restaurant Hiša Franko, represented Slovenia; Lastly, Nicolás Pailhes represented France, where he runs a restaurant in Richerenches, capital of the black truffle.

In addition, enhancing the marked international character of the event, a professional jury has been selected, with personalities of great relevance in world gastronomy such as Clare Reichenbach, Chief Executive Officer of the renowned James Beard Foundation, which bestows the most important culinary awards in the United States; Colombian chef Leonor Espinosa with her restaurant LEO, distinguished among the best restaurants in the world; or the Galician and one of the most influential chefs in Spain, Lucía Freitas, with a Michelin star. Also part of the jury are television chef Javier Peña; the chef from La Mancha Fran Martinez, with two Michelin stars and the champion of the previous edition of Cooking with Truffle and runner-up of Top Chef Spain, Antonio Arrabal.

The winning team of the Competition received the title of “World Truffle Cooking Champion” and an cash prize of 4,000 euros. In addition, the second place received a prize of 2,000 euros and the third place got 1,000 euros. As a novelty, the ‘Pequetrufa’ award has been established, and was awarded by the children’s jury to the best chef, receiving a prize of 1,000 euros.

Soria’s restaurants was invigorated as well as the province’s hotel professionals, creating possibilities for future exchanges, as well as enriching relationships between chefs. The participating restaurants were: La Galiana, La Taberna del Kiosco, Mesón Castellano, El Trashumante, La Lobita, La Chistera, El Baluarte and the Parador de Soria. This activity is carried out in collaboration with the Association of Hospitality and Tourism Entrepreneurs of Soria, ASHOTUR.

Truffle Technical Conference The Aula Magna Tirso de Molina, a Technical Conference was aimed at professionals in the kitchen, the press and the general public, to promote the responsible use of the black truffle in restaurants and at a private level. Within the Conference, quality control was carried out on the black truffle that were used in the International Competition “Cooking with Truffles” and that were provided by the Association of Black Truffle Collectors and Growers of Soria, ATRUSORIA and the Association Forest of Soria, ASFOSO.

Through this Technical Conference, the organization of the International Competition “Cooking with Truffles” has established a rigorous quality control, carried out by independent professionals, so that all the contestants had homogeneous specimens of truffles and in perfect conditions, taking care of aspects such as the roundness, maturity or weight of the product.

Promotion of ‘Trufi-Tourism‘ With the aim of involving all citizens, different activities have been scheduled around the truffle, such as two “Truffle Trails”, consisting of an informative talk on the truffle ecosystem and a practical outing to a truffle plantation. The objective is to be able to visit a truffle farm with the help of an expert, where there will be a truffle hunting demonstration.

In addition, together with the truffle growers’ associations: ATRUSORIA and ASFOSO, a ‘Truffle Market’ was be organized in the Palacio de la Audiencia, to promote and market the product, aimed both at the final consumer and at the professionals of the sector who attended participated in a commercial meeting with the truffle growers at the end of the Technical Day of truffle selection.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

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