ASICOTUR Says over 10,000 Pilgrims Visited Santiago de Compostela in June

Caribbean News Digital Newsroom

Last Thursday, June 24, as is customary for ASICOTUR, a non-profit organization that brings together members from Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries, held a training day for tourist destinations was organized with the participation of the First Vice President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda, who was able to inform the more than 21 countries attending the meeting about the investment and communication program carried out by the Autonomous Community, 

Within the program of improvements for the Xacobeo, the Vice-president pointed out that 86.5 million Euros have been invested in concrete actions, so that this Religious Tourism event, which for the first time in recent history will last until 2022, becomes one of the main engines of tourism recovery.

What have these resources been invested in? The Vice President was very transparent and emphatic in pointing out that, during all this time of pandemic and crisis, the Xunta de Galicia has been dedicated to condition a network of more than 70 public hostels, which, together with other private ones, have been used to put in perfect working order. In addition, the rehabilitation of the cathedral of Santiago has been completed; the altarpiece, the Portico de la Gloria and other major exterior renovations. Among other infrastructure measures, he commented that new life has been given to the shelter that had ceased to operate in Monte do Gozo, which will now have a capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 people. 

The Vice President shared with the audience other investments made, such as the training of all personnel in health and road infrastructure, but the most important thing to highlight is that all this has been communicated thanks to an extensive promotional campaign that calls visitors to return to integrate with nature, called "Walk Galicia", where more than 8 million Euros have been invested.  This campaign is aimed at national, Portuguese and French tourists in a first stage, and later at distant international markets, which in the years prior to the pandemic reached 55% of the total number of pilgrimages.

In short, all the reactivation measures implemented in the region, such as the Tourist Voucher, the Elige Galicia incentive program, the two-stage rescue of the sector and, finally, the health insurance against the coronavirus, make Galicia a reliable destination. We also highlight that, with this insurance, the Autonomous Community is positioned as a pioneer in safeguarding the health of visitors, a measure in force since June 1st of this year.

"We have a great opportunity of the Xacobean decade that we want to share" ...so ends Alfonso Rueda, who invites ASICOTUR to generate joint promotion strategies with the countries attending the meeting, who can eventually become issuers of visitors and positive synergies for the sector. 

Alejandro Rubin, the President of the Association, thanked the Vice President of the Xunta for his efforts and announced to all attendees after an intense round of questions that, during the next meeting, to be held on July 29, the official launch of ASICOTUR's Virtual Headquarters will take place, as a result of an agreement with the Spanish Multisectoral Association of Microenterprises (AEMME), which will enable the generation of new alliances and attract more tourism projects that can be supported by the Association.