Intelligent tourism

Catral and Guardamar del Segura have joined the regional network of intelligent tourism destinations (Red DTI-CV) in order to make improvements for visitors. Regional director general for tourism Herick Campos said the network offers specific and pilot programmes, aid for competitive tendering and the opportunity to earn tourism municipality status, which requires cooperation between all departments of town halls, ‘but is worth the effort’. Its principles are based on sustainability, hospitality, adding value to land and the landscape, relevance of culture and digital intelligence, accessibility, research, innovation and resilience, as well as the quality of infrastructure and of tourism businesses and services, he said. Guardamar town hall said it is planning to advance from the first to the top (third) level of the network, while at the same time renewing its status as a tourism municipality, in line with the more demanding requirements of the new regional law on tourism.

Sr Campos said this was important because ‘Guardamar is a holiday destination of the first order’. Catral tourism councillor Gustavo Candela said they will be making local tourism more environmentally, economically and socio-culturally sustainable. This includes improving production and marketing processes, better use of tourism resources, and identification and creation of new resources.