M. Around twenty managers participated in Cáceres in the 1st Forum of Spanish Cultural Routes
The meeting, which took place over two days, served to highlight the routes that make up the Spanish Cultural Routes Tourist Product Club, as well as other relevant cultural itineraries in our country.
The city of Cáceres celebrated the I Forum of Cultural Routes of Spain on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 September. Organised by the Tourist Product Club of Cultural Routes of Spain, it served as a meeting point for professionals and bodies responsible for tourism and cultural affairs. It provided an opportunity to analyse the current state of the “Cultural Routes” product through a panel of more than twenty experts in cultural tourism and route managers.
During the two-day meeting, topics as diverse as different itinerary management models, their funding, and the various marketing approaches being developed were addressed. Likewise, the contribution of cultural routes to the sustainable development of territories was discussed, taking into account its three aspects: economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
Among the notable interventions during the conference, the Secretary of State for Tourism actively participated in the meeting, describing in detail their work and how cultural itineraries can benefit from their various actions. Furthermore, they thoroughly informed attendees of their vision for cultural tourism and how it is one of the key strategies they employ for regional development.
Regarding the Institute of Tourism of Spain (Turespaña), their contribution highlighted the broad scope of actions they carry out in their promotional activities, emphasising their work with the Spanish Tourist Offices abroad and the data they are obtaining concerning the development of cultural tourism in the country. Furthermore, the strategic plan was meticulously detailed, and multiple actions were identified that offer possibilities for the development of cultural itineraries.
On the other hand, the foundations for the sustainable development of tourism in territories where this activity can still be approached from an inclusive, integrating perspective, and whose benefits directly impact the resident population, have also been debated. This offers opportunities for their development without abandoning their culture and territory.
Thus, in addition to the five itineraries that make up the Cultural Routes of Spain Product Club, managers of several nationally prominent itineraries have intervened, such as 
The Bética Romana Route, the Phoenicians' Route, the Network of Jewish Quarters of Spain, The Camí dels bons homes, the Camino Lebaniego or Iberian Cluny. Obtaining a panel of expert managers who, sharing their experience in the management of their itineraries, have allowed for the development of an accurate diagnosis of the current situation of this differential product in terms of cultural tourism.
For her part, Dr. Elena María Pérez presented a very comprehensive analysis of alternative, sustainable, feasible, and efficient tourism developments to the attendees. With complete examples, she offered a work model that allows the resources generated by tourism activities to benefit local populations, fostering the inclusivity of the inhabitants in tourism activities.
The meeting, organised with the collaboration of Cáceres City Council and Provincial Council, as well as the Junta de Extremadura, was attended by a total of 70 professionals who were able to discover the tourist offerings of the capital of Cáceres through technical visits to some of its most outstanding heritage sites, as well as some of the most notable gastronomic products in the region, such as wines from the D.O.P. Ribera del Guadiana or cheese from the D.O.P. Torta del Casar.
To consult the event programme, you can click at this link
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