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Framed in the MAT Plan and promoted by IGAPE and the Consellería de Cultura e Turismo, they are aimed at improving services, accessibility and implementation of energy improvement measures, mainly.

With the aim of continuing to advance in the construction of a more competitive and higher quality destination, the Xunta de Galicia has published two new lines of aid within the Plan MAT Tourist Accommodation Improvement, involving five departments of the Xunta and involving an investment of 4 million euros to be managed through the Departments of Culture and Tourism, Economy, Rural and Sea, as well as the Amtega.

Specifically, the Regional Ministry of Economy, Employment and Industry, through the Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (Igape), promotes the program TUR 2019 Reform, a pioneering initiative that will have an investment of 3 M€ to facilitate the improvement and modernization of services of 500 hotel establishments (hotels, Balearic hotels and thalasso hotels) with a maximum of 40 places, as well as rural tourism facilities and private hostels located on the Camino de Santiago.

The program endowed with 24 million euros aims to stimulate economic activity not only in the tourism sector but also in the companies adhered to the program that will provide the materials for the reforms of the establishments. The deadline for submitting applications for aid is open from 29 January to 28 March, while hotel establishments may request help from 28 February to 30 April. Applications from beneficiaries must be submitted to the establishments adhered to the program. Available at https://www.xunta.gal/dog/Publicados/2019/20190128/AnuncioO92-211218-0003_gl.html

Improving accessibility and sustainability
For its part, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism launches an order for grants of one million euros, in competitive competition, for actions to improve the infrastructure of tourist establishments of regulated accommodation in the Community. Through it, can be covered investments aimed at accessibility actions and removal of architectural barriers in these businesses, works for the optimization of facilities in order to obtain quality certifications, especially the Q for Quality Tourism, or actions to increase the classification of the establishment and raise its category.

It also includes air-conditioning initiatives that favour sustainability through the implementation of energy saving measures; the modernisation of installations and the beautification of the surroundings or the renovation of the furniture necessary for the operation of the accommodation establishment in its different typologies.

You can consult a summary of this line of aid in this document, in which benefits, evaluation criteria and presentation deadlines are indicated. The deadline for submitting applications for this second line will be one month from the day following the publication of the resolution in the Official Gazette of Galicia (DOG). It is available for consultation at https://www.xunta.gal/dog/publicados/2019/20190128/ AnuncioG0256-150119-0001_gl.html

Objectives of the MAT Plan
The MAT Plan comprises nearly twenty lines of aid for the creation or improvement of accommodation establishments, through subsidies and financial instruments. Likewise, it is accompanied by numerous actions such as the creation of an interactive aid map that allows the sector to know the available resources at retail level; training activities, global and sector networking conferences, informative meetings with experts, dissemination of good practices, recognition and distinction of excellence; specialisation courses run by prestigious entities such as the Centro Superior de Hostelería de Galicia (CSHG), training and conferences on accessibility awareness, activities aimed at innovation and support for management and continuous updating or dissemination.

In addition, actions are established in singular fields for the use of the tourist lodgings in the Ways of Santiago, thermalism, tourism and youth (festivals, sports…) and scientific tourism (ornithology, astronomy, geologies or industrial patrimony).