World Report

Well-known to the Spanish, Galicia is broadening its appeal to attract increasing numbers of foreign tourists

Galicia has a beautiful coastline and is ideal for outdoor activities, such as golf

alicia is visited by around 4.4 million tourists a year, but only around 600,000 of them come from abroad. The rest are from other parts of Spain, so attracting travellers from other countries is at the top of the agenda for Turgalicia, the region’s tourism agency.

Tourism has become an increasingly significant contributor to Galicia’s economy over the past decade. In the 1990s, it represented 3.4 per cent of gross domestic product. Today, it accounts for 10 per cent.

With more than 800 miles of coastline and 772 beaches, Galicia has much to offer the visitor seeking sun and sand. But there is much more. The attractive natural landscape, highly-regarded local food and wine, and the legacy of two thousand years of history, including celtic dwellings and Roman remains, all add to the appeal of a region with an individual character that distinguishes it from the rest of Spain.

Increasing numbers of visitors are being attracted by rural, adventure, nautical, health and spa tourism, and the congresses and conventions market is growing.

MARÍA ANTÓN
Director General of Turgalicia

‘One of our aims is to break the seasonal pattern of tourism ’

“One of our aims is to break the seasonal pattern – the tourist rush in the summer months of July and August,” explains María Antón, Turgalicia’s Director General. “We have been lengthening the season from May to October, which allows us time to offer new products that do not depend on the weather, and to work with other segments of the market. The fact that we have a lot of airports also opens many doors.”

Many thousands of people from all over the world are drawn to Galicia to make the ancient pilgrimage to the town of Santiago de Compostela, along one of the routes of the Way of St James. Next year, designated Jacobeo 2004, will see the celebration of one of the Holy Years of the Church of Santiago, which occur when the 25th of July, the feast of the martyrdom of St James, falls on a Sunday.

Ms Antón says: “What we would like is for people to come and enjoy their pilgrimage, and to leave saying ‘I want to come back’. It means they have enjoyed being here.”