“Both entities held professional workshops to introduce travel agencies to Spain’s culinary offerings.”
During these online training sessions, the 23 destinations of Saborea España presented everything they offer visitors in terms of gastronomy, enabling travel agents to become gastronomic experts who can better advise their clients.
Showcasing Spain’s Gastronomic Diversity
In the first session, Seville, Dénia, Badajoz, Pamplona, Zaragoza, and Oviedo shared their extensive gastronomic offerings. Two days later, Vinaròs, Lanzarote, A Coruña, Cullera, León, Ciudad Real, and Tudela presented their experiences to more than 100 attendees. The series concluded with La Palma, Cambrils, Segovia, Valladolid, Tenerife, Valencia, and Gran Canaria, showcasing their exceptional culinary traditions.
Gastronomic Tourism: A Key Driver for Spain
In Spain, gastronomic tourism is becoming increasingly important. Before the pandemic, 82% of Spaniards reported having taken a trip in the previous two years with the primary goal of experiencing local cuisine, according to a 2019 study by Dinamiza Consulting.
This form of tourism helps diversify the tourism model in well-established destinations, where other types of tourism typically dominate. It provides an opportunity for year-round tourism, helping to prevent overcrowding in heavily visited areas.
Gastronomic tourism not only attracts high-quality tourists, who tend to spend more and respect local culture, but it has also become a key competitive factor for tourist destinations, playing a decisive role in their branding and positioning.
Collaboration with Travel Agencies
Through these workshops, travel agencies received personalized insights into each Saborea España destination. Now, they can actively promote visits to different locations, emphasizing each area’s unique values and attractions.
Saborea España considers this collaboration highly valuable, as travel agencies will contribute to enhancing the structure of tourism products and boosting their commercialization within the national market.
According to Carlos Garrido, President of CEAV,
“Spain offers much more than just sun and beaches—nature, cultural tourism, wine tourism, and, of course, gastronomy. Travelers increasingly consider gastronomy an essential part of their experience. That’s why it is crucial for travel agencies to master everything Spanish destinations have to offer in this area. These workshops with Saborea España are a fantastic opportunity for them.”
A Strategic Agreement for Culinary Tourism
These sessions stem from an agreement signed between Saborea España and CEAV at FITUR, aimed at raising awareness of the Saborea España brand among Spanish travel agencies and introducing them to gastronomic travel proposals and key tourist routes. The ultimate goal is to enable agencies to market these experiences effectively.
About Saborea España
Saborea España is Spain’s national gastronomic tourism brand—the first platform with international ambitions to promote Spain’s tourism and gastronomy. It is composed of:
- Hostelería de España
- The Federation of Spanish Chefs and Pastry Chefs (FACYRE)
- The European Organization of Chefs (Euro-Toques)
- The Spanish Association of Gastronomic Tourism Destinations
- Paradores de Turismo
Additionally, Turespaña provides institutional support for the initiative.
