The border towns of Ayamonte and Vila Real de Santo met with hoteliers, professionals and trade associations from Portugal and Spain to collect suggestions and assess the tourist potential of the newly created Eurocity Ayamonte – Vila Real de Santo António.
During the working day, which brought together dozens of people in the auditorium of the Casa Grande Cultural Center this weekend, in Ayamonte, it was concluded that, together, the two cities have greater capacity to assert themselves both in the context of the Algarve and in the context of Andalusia, attracting more visitors and increasing tourist income.
Taking into account the official statistics of each of the countries and the accommodation capacity of Ayamonte and VRSA, it is estimated that, together, the Eurocity Ayamonte – VRSA may represent close to 11% of the accommodation capacity of the Algarve (figured in 102884 beds) and about a quarter of the accommodation capacity of the Huelva region (47912 beds).
Numerically speaking, the global accommodation capacity of Eurocity Ayamonte – VRSA places the Spanish city in first place in terms of tourist beds in the context of the Huelva region. Similarly, the Eurocity now gives Vila Real de Santo António fourth place in terms of tourist beds in the Algarve.
Together, the two locations also have to offer 6 golf courses with 18 holes, as well as 3 sport ports that, in total, offer more than 900 mooring places.
For the Mayor of Vila Real de Santo António, Luís Gomes, «Portugal and Spain live a similar reality in terms of tourism, namely with regard to challenges and difficulties, so the definition of common strategies will bring equally common benefits for economic agents'.
«We are confident that tourism cooperation is an area with potential in the context of the Eurocity, not least because we are not imposing any model at the outset, but rather building a path alongside professionals in the sector», continues Luís Gomes.
For the president of the Ayuntamiento (municipality) of Ayamonte, Antonio Rodríguez Castillo, the meeting held with tourism professionals shows that "there is political will to start a common work on both sides of the border", and the mayor also highlighted the role of associations companies in Portugal and Spain.
What is a Eurocity?
The “Eurocity Ayamonte – VRSA” is an example of a new model of cooperation that goes beyond institutional collaboration and the sum of simple programs and initiatives. Adopting a new vision of European citizenship, the project combines efforts and resources, which will involve, for example, the joint management of services and equipment in bordering municipalities.
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