Activities

Galicia will be a pioneer in 2020 with the design, for the first time in Spain, of criteria of tourist excellence in these places to strengthen the quality model

In collaboration with the Institute for Tourism Quality (ICTE), with which the Xunta signed a collaboration agreement, Galicia is working in a pioneering way to extend this Tourism Quality distinction to the Jacobean itineraries, the Portuguese Way and the Route of the Sea of Arousa and the River Ulla, as well as to the Rías Baixas and Ribeira Sacra Designation of Origin Wine Routes and, also for the first time, to singular spaces such as squares, gardens, interesting or commemorative monuments, libraries, lighthouses, promenades, etc.

In these first steps, Xunta and ICTE held a presentation day to city councils and interested entities in which ICTE technicians and the general director, Fernando Fraile, participated in order to identify places such as hostels or unique public spaces in these areas to define technical criteria so that they can be recognized with the Q for Tourism Quality.

Specific tools
As Nava Castro explained, thanks to this agreement, specific quality tools will be designed for the first time in 2020 to evaluate its management system, services and equipment in these areas of influence. In fact, the Xunta organized different informative days both in the area of influence of Pontevedra and in Monforte de Lemos, for the area of influence of the Ribeira Sacra.

With these measures Galicia will advance as a quality destination by designing the Q routes, which include the Way of Saint James and wine itineraries, promoting in these environments especially the excellence of professionals and tourist services. In addition, the professionals in the sector of these Q routes, which are characterised by having small and medium sized businesses, will have the necessary help to accredit the quality of their services and deepen their professionalisation.