Tourist News in Asturias
Discover the latest news in the tourism sector. Your essential guide to always be informed about what is happening in the tourism sector in Asturias.
The projects, financed with European Next Generation funds, are aimed at boosting the sector, attracting visitors, increasing competitiveness and diversifying the offer.
■ Vice-president Gimena Llamedo stresses that the Principality will activate "almost one hundred million euros this term of office, which will lead to investment in tourism in practically all Asturian municipalities".
The tourism sustainability plans of the councils of Cabrales, Valdés, Allande, Amieva, Degaña, Ibias, Peñamellera Alta, Peñamellera Baja and Ponga, together with those of the Cinco Villas (Muros de Nalón, Pravia and Soto del Barco) and Valle del Nalón (Langreo, San Martín del Rey Aurelio, Laviana, Sobrescobio and Caso) associations will mobilise an investment of over 10.5 million euros. These actions will help to attract visitors, increase competitiveness, boost the sector and diversify the offer.
The Governing Council has already approved the expenditure for these initiatives, which also aim to promote sustainability and digitalisation in the management of tourism resources, infrastructures and products, as well as to generate employment opportunities and economic activity. The plans contribute to the preservation of the landscape, as they support actions to reduce emissions and efficiency in waste treatment and water consumption.
The Vice-President and Regional Minister for the Presidency, Demographic Challenge, Equality and Tourism, Gimena Llamedo, stressed in Pravia that the Government of the Principality is committed to "mobilising almost one hundred projects this term of office, which will lead to tourism investments in practically all Asturian municipalities" and highlighted the increase in the number of tourists registered by the region in recent years. " Asturias has received 2.3 million travellers up to and including September, 13.83% more than in the same period last year, and is 251,018 visitors away from exceeding 2.5 million in one year for the first time in history", he said, recalling data from the latest report by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
The arrival of the high-speed train will improve even more this historical record, to which will contribute the promotional campaign of the Principality, Asturias, closer than ever, launched by the regional Government with more than one million and which Llamedo presented at the meeting of the AVE Board held on Friday. "The success of AVE ticket sales is a foretaste of what is to come from the 29th", she stressed.
The Vice-President stressed that "the Government of Asturias is already working in coordination with the sector to launch tourist packages that include a trip to the Principality together with different experiences in the destination". The focus is also on tourism for meetings, congresses and incentive trips (known as MICE), with the aim of "deseasonalising it and making Asturias an attractive destination for visitors 365 days a year".
Llamedo made these statements after the meeting he held with the councillors of Pravia, Muros de Nalón and Soto del Barco, David Álvarez Suárez, Celestino Novo and José Manuel Lozano,
respectively, municipalities that form part of the Cinco Villas Community of Municipalities, one of the beneficiaries of the funds from the Tourism Sustainability Plan.
The funds approved for these plans, financed with European funds from the Next Generation EU programme, are distributed as follows:
■ Mancomunidad del Valle del Nalón: 3,677,700 euros.
The project Landscape, culture, active nature and industrial tourism through the traces of a mining history in the Nalon Valley, the river of Asturias, totals 20 actions, including the adaptation of the network of viewpoints, environmental recovery and flood prevention in the rural paths of Caso, the route of the Mining Industrial Heritage, the environmental restoration of the mines of Llaimo and the Mayá de los Pandanes, and works on the long distance paths of the protected landscape of the mining basins and the Natural Park of Redes. It will also facilitate the digitalisation of tourist information and resources, as well as the design of virtual reality experiences. Measures are also planned to promote the expansion of exhibition spaces at the Asturias Iron and Steel Museum.
Mancomunidad de las Cinco Villas: 1.860.134 euros
The Bajo Nalón, un destino muy cerca de ti plan includes twenty actions in Muros de Nalón, Pravia and Soto del Barco, including the adaptation, maintenance and signposting of historical and hiking routes, as well as environmental and landscape conservation work.
An eco-efficient lighting system will also be installed on Aguilar beach and road planning will be carried out in the port of L'Arena and the town hall square in Soto del Barco. There are also plans for a sustainable mobility plan and improvements to the historic centre of Pravia, a motorhome area and the design of product experiences linked to gastronomic and industrial tourism.
Cabrales Town Council 1.996.506 euros
This project, which includes ten measures, will enable the redistribution of the tourist offer of the council in order to enhance the value of natural and cultural resources complementary to those of the Picos de Europa National Park. Among other actions, the traditional paths and tracks in the main villages of the municipality will be restored and recharging points for bicycles and electric cars will be installed. In addition, park-and-ride car parks will be improved, the use of virtual reality will be promoted to improve the tourist experience in Mina Delfina and a green belt will be created.
Valdés City Council: 1,348,200 euros
The initiative includes, among its eleven actions, the adaptation of beaches to adapt them to climate change, as well as the road and mountain cycling route, in addition to the promotion of gastronomic tourism. The council will also implement a sustainable tourist mobility plan, improve energy efficiency and create museums for illustrious personalities.
Allande Town Council: 203,500 euros
The Allande Town Council will carry out three actions: equipment for astro-tourism ("Starlight" project), the application of virtual reality in the Castro San Chuis and the Río del Oro Route.
Amieva Town Council: €265,000
The package of actions includes the visitor reception areas of Santillán, Sames and Vis; the burying of containers in Santillán and Sames, improvements to the paths in tourist reception areas and the installation of electric car charging points.
Degaña Town Council: 200,000 euros
The Degaña Town Council will invest this sum in the greenway parallel to the AS-15 road between Cornellana and the port of Cerredo and in the Camino histórico de las juntas errantes.
Ibias Town Council: 200,000 euros
The Ibias council will improve the paths and tourist reception areas in the municipality and install bicycle repair points.
Peñamellera Alta Town Council: €265,000
The recovery of the old schools to transform them into a hostel and the refurbishment and signposting of the cheese makers' route, the destination of the 265,000 euros for Peñamellera Alta.
Peñamellera Baja Town Council: 265,000 euros.
In Peñamellera Baja they will finance the pilgrims' hostel and the improvement of the footpaths and tourist reception areas (Senda del Deva).
City Council of Ponga: 265.000 euros
The Ponga Town Council's tourism plan includes five actions: the San Juan car park, the burying of containers, signposting and equipment for cycle tourism ("Ponga trail centre"), the installation of a tourist information point and the installation of chargers for electric vehicles.