There are places that do not appear in tourist guides or in internet recommendations. Spaces to discover that are in the experience of locals and some travelers. Samsung created this summer the initiative The hidden country to collect the best images of those sites, which the users themselves publish, and inspire a different journey. All the photographs put together form a interactive map of a Spain with unique destinations. The best of all those that capture winter and are uploaded between November 30 and December 14 will be awarded a Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.
With the photos of the users, in elpaisoculto.es, the interactive map of the most beautiful Spain is being formed
The initiative comes at a time when the national trip is reinventing itself. Also in winter. The mountains and the ski resorts, after a year to forget, face the new season with optimism. “Everything points to the fact that, if a new wave is not unleashed, the national market will become more dynamic as before the pandemic and part of the international market, too,” said Jesús Ibáñez, president of the Tourist Association of Ski and Mountain Resorts in Spain (ATUDEM). “These days it is snowing, it is cold, the stations are opening their facilities, we are beginning to talk about snow … We are very excited about the new season.”
The rise of inland tourism
In 2021, domestic travelers have broken records while foreign tourism has stagnated, marking half of the pre-pandemic figures. This is clear from the Hotel Occupancy Survey published by the INE. Inland tourism has recovered, surpassing the 34 million Spanish visitors in the country’s accommodations, the highest number in the last 15 years. “If the pandemic has shown us something, it is the importance of adapting to circumstances, of trying to extract strengths from weaknesses,” sums up Jorge Marichal, president of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation CEHAT.
The pandemic has rescued and strengthened the rural destination, a less crowded destination and therefore safer. It has also forced many Spaniards who traveled abroad to rethink their destination and opt for national tourism. This has led many to reconnect with a country to explore. Spain is in a moment of self-knowledge, a time to discover less crowded corners. It is a process of individual discovery but the idea is that, thanks to initiatives like this, it is also collective.
We have not only changed where we travel, we are also changing when. Fleeing crowded areas and dates, many travelers have chosen to go on a trip in quieter times, something that actors in the sector have been pursuing for a long time. “We have seen how this summer many areas have managed to extend the season until well into October and that has served to seasonally adjust little by little,” confirms Marichal. “Many hotels have managed to attract tourism outside of the traditional dates.”
Winter is a good time to see new places. There are vacations, there are trips to see the family, and there is a whole country to discover, beyond the usual trite destinations. If you want to take an idea, or contribute yours in the form of a photo, participate in this Instagram contest and you will be able to see your image within an interactive map at www.elpaisoculto.es
How to take part
To compete it is necessary to follow @samsungespana On Instagram. Upload a winter photo with the hashtags # TuRincónOculto and #withGalaxy. Add the location and a description, tag in the image to @samsungespana and explain why this is a hidden corner and special for you.
#Winter #light #beautiful #corners #photographed