Tourism Sector and Administration place European funds and new safe corridors as keys for the recovery of tourism

Representatives of the tourism sector and the Public Administration have coincided today in placing the foreseeable arrival of European funds and the opening of new safe health corridors as two of the keys to accelerate the reactivation and recovery of tourism, as well as to maintain the competitive leadership of Spain within this industry. This is one of the conclusions drawn from the first roundtable discussion of the XX Benidorm International Tourism Forum, which started today in the city and which for two days will address issues such as the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and its link with tourism, and health security.

A first roundtable discussion, around SDG number 17 -'Alianzas to achieve objectives'- moderated by the director of the Provincial Tourism Board, José Francisco Mancebo, and in which have participated: Víctor Badorrey Fernández-Pacheco, director of Institutional Relations of Segittur; Gabriel Escarrer, President of Exceltur and Executive Vice President and CEO of Meliá Hotels Internacional; and Leire Bilbao, manager of Visit Benidorm Foundation.

The three participants have referred to "the opportunity" offered by the funds committed by the European Union. Thus, the president of Exceltur has advocated that "the distribution" of these funds be made "based on strategic criteria and return on investment", thus reaching the tourism sector.

Escarré has stated that "if we have the support of Europe and the Government of Spain" in the participation of these funds, the recovery could already be palpable in 2022. Some funds, he added, that the sector should allocate to "sustainability", "Digitization" and updating of "pioneer destinations" thus maintaining levels of tourist competitiveness and the predominant position in this area "the next 20 years."

In this regard, the manager of Visit Benidorm has stressed that "tourism is the only industry that cannot be relocated", so that the investment made in supporting this sector and its companies to maintain and generate employment will remain in the territory.

Bilbao has also pointed out the need to open new "tourist corridors within Spain" and that they are already operational when mobility restrictions are overcome also internationally. After stressing that "during the summer" the tourism sector applied "all health protocols" and that "there were no infections among tourists", Bilbao has remarked that "if it gives us the opportunity to start up new corridors we will do well".

For his part, the Director of Institutional Relations at Segittur has defended "the importance of the tourism sector" in generating wealth and employment, and has insisted that it is necessary to "recognize" the role and contribution of this industry. Likewise, it has opted to delve into “public-private alliances” and to “increase coordination” to “share experiences and solutions” such as those adopted, for example, by Benidorm during the pandemic in tourism, and that they be replicable in other territories.

The three speakers also highlighted "the solidarity" shown by the tourism sector during the pandemic and that has been evidenced in destinations such as Benidorm, where the industry has made hotels available for medicalization, has offered accommodation to health personnel or has provided food for the most vulnerable people.

During the debate, Badorrey, Escarré and Bilbao have analyzed the current situation and the challenges and uncertainties of tourism in the post-Covid-19 era, not only due to the pandemic but also due to other variables such as ‘Brexit’.

The second discussion table of the Forum has dealt with SDG 6, Water and Sea. Moderated by the director of the Engineering Department of the Benidorm City Council, Vicente Mayor; The following took part in the table: Víctor Yepes, Doctor of Civil Engineering, Canals and Ports-Polytechnic University of Valencia; the president of Hidraqua-Grupo Suez Spain, Asunción Martínez, and José Palacios, vice president of Blue Flag.