The Córdoba City Council has announced the immediate relaunch of the Tourism Excellence Plan, designed in collaboration with the Junta de Andalucía. The objective is to consolidate a sustainable tourism model that promotes coexistence with residents and enhances the visitor experience. Mayor José María Bellido detailed during the Foro Next Spain that the project includes an investment program of between 15 and 20 million euros.
Bellido expressed confidence in maintaining institutional collaboration with the new Andalusian Minister of Tourism, Manuel Gavira, highlighting the Tourism Excellence Plan as the most significant collaboration with the Junta, focused on making Córdoba a sustainable destination. The mayor advocated for the city's model as a benchmark among World Heritage Cities, emphasizing the importance of sustainability, heritage conservation, urban planning, and the balance between tourism activity and quality of life to ensure tourism is compatible with coexistence.
During the discussion, the role of technology in tourism management was addressed, enabling more segmented and targeted promotion. Issues concerning railway connectivity following the Adamuz accident and its impact on tourism were also discussed. Bellido acknowledged the dependence on high-speed rail, considering it a competitive advantage despite recent failures.
The president of the Provincial Council of Córdoba, Salvador Fuentes, agreed on the importance of connectivity, stating that 'connectivity is tourism' and highlighting the province's strategic location. He noted that the railway incident has led to a reputational crisis and a significant maintenance deficit in the network. Both institutional leaders also emphasized the potential of the Córdoba Airport, considering it an achievement of inter-administrative cooperation and a key step in attracting new international routes.
Fuentes advocated for directing tourism promotion towards visitors with higher spending capacity, focusing on economic impact rather than tourist numbers. He proposed leveraging the province's unique resources, such as gastronomy, olive oil tourism, wine, nature, and heritage, to offer a tourism of diversity, emotions, and experiences that encourages repeat visits.
