Experience Exchange Santander
The third exchange of experiences took place from the 2nd to 6th October in Santander/Spain. The topics "qualification of personnel for the tourism target group of the so-called 3rd Age" and "The golden adult years" were in the focus.
After a first brief meeting of all participants, they went to Santillana del Mar in the hotel "Parador Santillana Gil Blas". The Paradores hotel chain is one of the best-regarded hotel chains in Spain. It is a public enterprise and is a model for seriousness, prestige and recognition, both at national and international level. Unique buildings of historical significance and in scenically beautiful areas as well as worth seeing cultural goods are experienced by the hotel chain a renaissance of their existence and are made into beautiful and attractive accommodations or rebuilt without forgetting or rebuilding the history of the house.
How can a city be "smarter" for tourists? This question was raised by the town of Santillana del Mar and developed a project which dealt with this topic. Mr. Torre Don Borja presented the project idea, which was discussed by the participants in a lively debate.
The cave of Altamira near Santillana del Mar is known for its Stone Age cave painting. It belongs to the Franco-Cantabrian cave art and is part of the UNESCO World heritage. Because of the high number of visitors, the destruction threatened this cave, it was closed, rebuilt according to the original, and thus made accessible to the visitors, even with handicap or from the older generation.
In addition, tourism companies were visited in the sense of "good practice". This included the hotel "La Casona el Arral", which is led by a pair of siblings and specialises in rural tourism, the "Hotel Ballneario Liérganes" which is active in the field of health tourism and the privately owned brewery "Cervezas Dougall's".
In subsequent workshops, the learned and the impressions gained were discussed and reflected. The Tourism University of Santander provided space for this purpose and presented itself and selected tourism concepts. A concept was strongly supported by the participants and discussed whether it is possible to transfer this concept to other countries.
The basic idea of this concept is: "Every Spanish citizen who has worked and lived in Spain for 15 years, from the Government refers to pension funds, is over 60 years old or widowed, can make subsidized vacations in a region that is involved in the project".
It was a very strenuous, exciting and eventful week for all participants. Thank you for the lively participation and the many discussions.
Here you can find the experience report from the Jupe & Pohl Ltd.
