The Spanish government has just announced that it plans to spend €1 billion to promote tourism in the country as it seeks to gain back some of its lost visitors. This is actually the third extension of the Plan Renove tourism promotion that was proposed by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The Prime Minister travelled to Mallorca to hold his regular cabinet meeting and announce the tourism initiative.
Of the €1 billion, 500 million will be spent to help companies and businesses that are involved with sustainable energy and tourism and the remaining 500 million will go to projects backed by the Official Credit Institute, or ICO. So far, 100 million has been promised to the Canary Islands.
In addition to the money headed for the Canaries, 170 million will be spent on the state-run Parador hotels. This will go for modernizing current properties and to construct two new hotels in Castellon and Lerida. Another nine million is targeted for promoting Spanish gastronomy tourism.
In addition to the Spanish government’s plans to promote the country, the Valencia region is opening a new tourism office in London designed to specifically draw visitors to the Costa Blanca. The UK sent 44 percent of international tourists to the Costa Blanca in 2008 and the numbers have dropped this year.
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