The Catalan Tourist Board is speaking with UK tour operators about its new project promoting lesser-known regional stops around Catalonia.
At the WTM Catalan Gala Dinner in central London last night, UK and Ireland director Aicard Guinovart confirmed he was discussing the 2,000 km route – called the Grand Tour of Catalonia – with four tour operators, including direct-sell British Airways Holidays.
The 13-day tour, which can be broken down into five segments, focuses on sustainable and responsible tourism, “aims to promote the territory’s knowledge, as well as respect its traditions and culture” and “seeks to boost the discovery of local life and products, and to encourage respect for the environment”.
Around 250 partners had been involved in putting together the tour, which launched in July and includes destinations such as Tarragona, Lleida and La Seu.
Guinovart said: “The project started more than two years ago when we realised that we wanted to make tourists understand more about Catalonia and know more products.
“The next step will be to work with tour operators.”
He said Catalonia is targeting repeat visitors by encouraging them to do return to complete different sections of the tour.
Patrick Torrent, executive director of the Catalan Tourist Board, said: “[The Grand Tour] is a perfect option to engage with Catalan experiences and avoid concentrations of people.”
He explained that people could travel around within their own bubble, which had become “more important” now that the world was dealing with a pandemic.
Ted Wake, joint managing director of Kirker Holidays, attended. He said: “It’s all about going on a slow holiday beyond Barcelona. It would be irresponsible not to visit some of the places that they are highlighting.”