Spain will invest 100 million euros to enrich tourism through the "Spain Tourism Experiences" programme

• Spain launches the first call of a programme with 26 million euros in 2022

The Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has opened the period to apply for aid from the Spain Tourism Experiences programme, financed in its first call with 26 million euros from the Next Generation EU recovery funds.

With a total budget of 100 million euros until 2023, this initiative aims to increase and improve the experiences that make up Spain's tourism offer, promoting innovative initiatives that transform experiences at a national level or that are developed in at least three autonomous regions in order to facilitate their promotion in international markets.

For the Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, “the Spain Tourism Experiences programme will improve the experiential offer that Spain offers to its visitors and will attract quality tourism. This new program will enhance the value of our rich tangible and intangible heritage, relaunching the authenticity of the territories and their populations for their international promotion. A commitment to the quality and excellence of our tourism model that reinforces Spain as an international tourism leader”.

Special focus on the Xacobeo

The first amount of 26 million euros includes 5 million that will be reserved for projects related to the Xacobeo Year. The maximum amount for each aid will be two million euros, and the minimum, 200 000 euros.

According to the regulatory bases of the call, published in the Spanish Official State Gazette on 11 January 2022, these grants are aimed at associations, foundations, economic interest groups, tourism companies or SMEs, and public entities that act as tourism cooperation entities.

Lines of action

The projects submitted to the call must be framed in one of the following three lines:

• Innova: its objectives are to promote and strengthen the networks of actors and create narratives about inspiring experiences that build stories at the country level; improve resources; promote the improvement of tourism sustainability and deepen the digital transformation of the Spain Tourism Experiences processes.
• Integra: it aims to promote that the tourist experience incorporates in its design the local productive context close to the destinations through the circular economy, local communities and the diversity of profiles and segments in the design of the experiences.
• Comunica: it seeks to improve the communication of Spain Tourism Experiences and turn them into one of the pillars of the international promotion of Spain. Areas related to safety and resilience will receive special attention.