The Consistory presents its strategic plan for the sector between questions about what happens to heritage attractions such as the Monteagudo complex
«This is very good, but I would like to know if there is something firm to put the value of a diamond in the rough that nobody has, such as the monumental complex of the Monteagudo fortresses». Mayca Dengra, official tourist guide and director of the Aldaba Congresos company, asked Mayor Pedro García Rex that question after presenting the sector with the Strategic Tourism Plan for the next four years. Quickly, his question was supported by other attendees at the appointment.
This document, prepared by the consulting firm TMR Experience from two work groups with different agents of the sector in the municipality, seeks to set “the roadmap that should guide the development of tourism” until 2025, setting “a sustainable, innovative model and accessible”, according to the mayor, José Antonio Serrano.
However, behind these proposals, which have a certain degree of abstraction and are pending budget specification, it is impossible to ignore the lack of enhancement that many of the monumental assets of the municipality suffer from. «The Castle of Monteagudo is our Mont Saint-Michel; I organize tourist routes with foreign visitors to the area and they are so amazed on a positive level, because we have this heritage; as negative, because it is in that poor state of conservation, “said Dengra. The first phase of conditioning works of the fortress has been waiting for months for the start of the works, already awarded. It seems, however, that they could start imminently after being reconsidered.
The first phase of the works in the castle of the Wolf King could start imminently after undertaking its redesign
Nor should we forget the situation in which the San Esteban site finds itself, pending its musealization for more than a decade and which requires a three-way budget agreement between administrations. “We are working in both cases on that enhancement”, assured García Rex.
This plan is precisely committed to structuring an offer that looks, primarily and strategically, at first level Cultural Tourism, Gastronomy, Congress and weekend getaways. It does not forget other proposals such as family and sports activities, or shopping tourism, although the director of TMR, Luis Herrero, acknowledges that “the commercial fabric of the historic center is not being promoted, which is what gives it life”.
These proposals would benefit from a perception of the municipality as a “safe, dynamic and hospitable destination, to visit without haste, which benefits from both an urban and natural landscape and the uniqueness of its orchard. Residents of Madrid, the Valencian Community and Andalusia are targeted as priority visitors, but also British, French and Italians on an international level, without forgetting foreign residents of the Region. “They are a captive market with high potential,” adds Herrero. This Plan has a system of indicators to measure its success.
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