A commitment to water-based tourism
Nautical tourism was the central theme of all presentations, which focused on analysing the strategic value of water sports as one of the main drivers of the tourism sector. Over recent decades we've been fortunate to attract thousands of tourists each year thanks to our sunshine and beaches, but nowadays this isn't enough.
Considering the tourist offerings from both other national and international destinations, the EVCV Congress proposed ways to attract and retain tourists who visit their shores each year. They argued that maintaining the same tourism model as before is no longer sufficient, and that the focus should shift to outdoor sports and active tourism.
The Valencian Community has beaches perfectly suited for water sports, and the best way to enhance these existing resources is through joint efforts between the Regional Government and local councils. They affirmed that only through teamwork and promoting the creation of spaces for sports practice can they improve both the quantity and quality of tourism.
Speakers confirmed there are many sailing companies interested in collaborating to expand their businesses, but unfortunately local councils aren't granting the necessary permits or paying proper attention to innovative projects presented to them. It even appears that young entrepreneurs with fresh ideas are unable to implement them.
Kitesurfing as the most practised sport
Among all nautical sports practised in the Valencian Community, kitesurfing has gained the most followers and seen the greatest expansion over the last decade. In the 1990s there were virtually no kites on our beaches, but today thousands of athletes practise it each year, with numbers growing exponentially.
As discussed at the Congress, some kitesurf schools have submitted improvement projects to local councils without receiving any response, despite the many kilometres of "available" beach along the Valencian coast. Their intention is to create specific zones for kitesurfing, but councils believe this might disturb more sedentary tourism.
This has led to many athletes receiving fines from authorities when attempting to practise, while numerous riders now travel each year to Spanish destinations like Tarifa and the Canary Islands or to international locations where the sport is permitted, such as Brazil, Morocco or the Caribbean.
Over 50 sailing schools from the Valencian Community and speakers addressed the importance of nautical tourism as another form of tourism needing promotion.
