Cluster

With the aim of bringing together different experiences, characteristics of demand and evolution of the family tourism segment, the Department of Tourism, Trade and Consumption of the Basque Government together with the Basque Tourism Agency (Basquetour) and the Family Tourism Development Office held the First Conference on Family Tourism, a meeting that brought together in Zarautz on 12 and 13 June numerous specialist entities in the sector, including the Galician Tourism Cluster and the Galicia Family Destination brand.

The Galician representation was focused on bringing professional experience to more than a hundred experts in the sector, focusing on the creation and development of the seal Galicia Family Destination to date and highlighting that it is the only seal in Galicia in this field that accredits 40 companies in the accommodation, catering, complementary offer and travel agencies, spread over different parts of the Galician geography, designed for families.

In addition to the explanation regarding the Galicia Family Destination seal, the table in which the CTG participated was attended by Javier Castillo, CEO of Expertus Tourism and Leisure, who highlighted that Galicia is in the top 5 holiday destinations for families in summer, and Leire Gonzalez, responsible for TripAdvisor Destinations, which noted that 18% of families choose Spain when it comes to travel, becoming the first country internationally in family tourism. The family segment chooses Spain for its safety and tranquility in medical matters, essential when traveling with children, as Pau Garcia, journalist, travel blogger and author of “elPachinko.com”, says from his experience.

The day also brought together experts linked to the marketing sector, whose role is essential in making the tourist offer more attractive, such as Maria Cos, Vamos Eltern-Kind-Reisen GmbH, German tour operator that highlights the tourist attraction that families look for when traveling as authentic, good weather and outdoor activities without having to travel, like Andy McCulloch, British tour operator, whose presentation valued the tourist attraction that has the north of Spain and that differentiates it from the rest of the country.
The sum of creating a tourist destination “Family friendly” with marketing, good practices and assumption of new challenges result in families feel at home when traveling, and this is how they put it into practice from NH Aranzazu, whose Guest Relations, Alaitz Mendoza, shares the importance of taking care of every detail, of giving the families a welcoming welcome adapted to the taste of the smallest of the house, of addressing them by name, something very simple but very complicated at times and that brings the tourist closer, turning him into a potential prescriber.

The participation in these days of family tourism in the Basque Country endorses the firm commitment of the Galician Tourism Cluster to a growing segment, valuing the resources and business initiatives that give families a priority place in their strategies. For the fourth consecutive year, Galicia Family Destination will continue to be the seal of reference in Galicia in terms of family tourism.