The RSG meeting of The Valencia Region Council of Chambers of Commerce was organised on 16 July 2020, face to face in Valencia. The meeting was dedicated to the evaluation and revision of the content of the Case Study: “The Tourist Navigation in the Albufera Natural Park” (PNA), assessing contributions of different stakeholders, revising content, results and proposals, and exposing the potential actions to be included in the Regional Action Plan, with the contributions of the different experts / stakeholders. The meeting attended 10 authorities and experts on the PNA from authorities, institutions, universities, business associations and civil society, such as, IVACE Innovation (GVA), Albufera Natural Park General Director, Technical Office Devesa-Albufera from the Valencia Town Hall, Foundation Turisme Valencia of Valencia Town Hall, Professor from Polytechnical University of Valencia (UPV), Technological Energy Centre of Valencia Region (ITE), Expert on Tourism of the Valencia Chamber of Commerce, Valencia Region Council of Chambers of Commerce representing the 5 local Chambers of Commerce of the Valencia Region, Local Europe and Assut Foundation.
The main discussion was around the Case Study on sustainable tourist activities in the PNA, regulations of Boat Trips, and evaluation of the final draft's content, suggestions and results. See the results of the boat guide survey. Also, discussion on the recommendations for policy improvements.
Concerning the specifications of the case Study, the most relevant topics discussed were:
Better regulation of the touristic navigation activities in the ANP and raising awareness of its importance for the benefit of all the actors, managers, companies, boatmen, users and citizens were stressed by the authorities.
The University highlighted the need of promoting sustainable practices on active tourism in the ANP that can be controlled. The industry stressed on introducing new technologies to control de reservation, speed and safety boats, and professionalization of boat guides, offering to combine services and quality recognition: the use of green energy for boats (solar, electric) and energetic communities. All underlined the limitation of existing amount of boat licenses. By addressing the regulation of boat trips, other important activities such as fishing activities, ornithological activities, restaurants, environmental education, cycling, guide visits will be indirectly addressed. APN needs a new regulation and improve the control of the existing one.
Moreover, discussion was held on the proposed actions to be included in the Action Plan analyzing other possible actions from the good practices of other project partners and from Interreg good practice database.
All stakeholders consider the project as a good opportunity to define a road map for the ANP. They highlight the importance of decarbonization of the tourism activities of the ANP, as Valencia becomes the first city in the world to verify and certify the carbon footprint of its tourist activity. The report has been certified by the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification (AENOR), making Valencia a world leader in sustainability.
