Nuria Montes points out that betting on quality and certified sustainability is now 'a necessity' in the tourism sector

• The councilor highlights that the Valencian Community is a leader in the implementation of quality tourism projects at the national level, and encourages joining the 'sustainable Mediterranean attitude' to be more competitive
• At Feria València, Montes has delivered the 'Tourism Quality Commitment' badges to the destinations in the province that have achieved or renewed the badge in 2023
• Alboraya, La Ribera del Xúquer, Vall de Albaida, Canal de Navarrés, Xàtiva, Cullera, Sagunto, Gandia and València have been the nine award-winning destinations.
• The Minister of Innovation, Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Nuria Montes, has pointed out that “we must emphasize that betting on quality and sustainability, which is also certified, is now a necessity.”

Montes has stressed that "this is going to be a differentiating issue with respect to other destinations, which will make tourists choose us and have the confidence and security that they are visiting a place that applies parameters and tools that guarantee its sustainable development."

This is how the head of Turisme spoke at Feria Valencia, during the closing of the ceremony for the delivery of the 'Tourist Quality Commitment' badges of the Comprehensive System for Spanish Tourist Quality in Destination (Sicted) to the destinations in the province of Valencia.

An event, presented by the regional secretary of Tourism, Cristina Moreno, which has brought together the highest representatives of the destination management entities, the Council of Chambers and Chamber of Valencia, who collaborate in the implementation of the program in the Valencian Community, as well as distinguished tourist services, both from the public and private sectors.

Specifically, there have been nine destinations in the province of Valencia that have collected the Sicted award that endorses their commitment to the program, obtaining for the first time or renewing the distinction in 2023. And these are: Alboraya, La Ribera del Xúquer, the Vall de Albaida, Canal de Navarrés, Xàtiva, Cullera, Sagunto, Gandia and València.

During the closing of the event, the Minister thanked “the effort and commitment to tourism quality” of all the recognised destinations, because all “you are essential to contribute to our positioning as a destination and to make us more competitive,” she added.

For the head of the Consell's tourism policy, “hospitality, the diversity of our offer and professionalism are key to the Valencian Community's tourism model, in which we must always put tourists at the centre of our strategies.”

Nuria Montes recalled that “from the new Valencian Government we are fully committed to this drive for tourism sustainability.” In fact, she has emphasised that “we are working hard to be the first destination to obtain the Aenor certificate that recognizes our strategy for responsible tourism.”

“We aspire to become benchmarks in quality, sustainability and competitiveness,” added Montes, while advocating “to continue aligning our tourism offer with quality and certified sustainability programs, such as Sicted and the S for Sustainability, because thanks to In this work, “we are leaders in the implementation of quality tourism projects at the national level,” he stressed.

Finally, the head of Turisme has encouraged destinations to “continue joining our sustainable and Mediterranean attitude.” For Nuria Montes “the future of the Community involves competing through quality and sustainability programs.”

About the award-winning destinations

The first recognised destination, and the newest in this program, has been Alboraya, which joined Sicted in 2022, managing to distinguish 10 local services in its first year of operation.

The Ribera del Xúquer has been another of the distinguished destinations, which, with 48 municipalities, has belonged to this program since 2021. Last year it closed the year with 18 distinguished services.

The third awarded destination has been La Vall de Albaida, which has 34 municipalities, and has been a member of the Sicted program since 2021, closing the year 2023 with 38 distinguished services, of which 15 obtained the distinction for the first time.

The Canal de Navarrés has also been distinguished in this event, a destination that integrates 8 municipalities, joined Sicted in 2021 and closed the 2023 financial year, with 22 distinguished tourist services, of which 8 obtained the distinction for the first time. time and 5 renewed.

Xàtiva has also been another of the recognized destinations, its membership in the program dates back to 2014, and last year it managed to distinguish 65 tourist services, of which 11 renewed.

Another of the destinations that received the award this Monday was Cullera, which joined in 2014 and closed the 2023 financial year with 65 distinguished tourist services, of which 10 obtained the distinction for the first time and 29 renewed.

Sagunto, also recognised, joined the Sicted CV program in 2014 and closed 2023 with 70 distinguished tourist services, of which 4 obtained the distinction for the first time and 31 renewed.

Likewise, Gandia has been another of the recognized destinations in the province, whose adhesion to the program dates back to 2014, closing the 2023 financial year with 139 distinguished tourist services, of which 17 obtained the distinction for the first time and 74 renewed.

Finally, the city of València has been the ninth and last destination that has collected the award from the hands of the councilor Nuria Montes. After ten years of membership, it is the destination with the largest number of distinctions, with 176 tourist services, and of them, 20 obtained the distinction for the first time in 2023 and 65 renewed their distinction.