“Promotion is the key to improving our status and attracting new clients”

Councilwoman Angélica Such talked to us about the fourth edition of the International Tourism Fair of the Community of Valencia (TCV), April 4 - 6, an event aimed at businesses and institutions whose objective is to continue promoting all the qualities of our region during a year of great events such as Formula 1 and the Volvo Ocean Race.

What does TCV do for the potential of tourism that is already well established in the Community of Valencia?
The International Tourism Fair TCV is an ambitious event that will be consolidated this year with an offer of competitive and highly qualified services and infrastructures on the international stage, making it an essential meeting point for this sector.
At whom is the International Fair directed and what are its principal objectives? It is directed at all professionals in the tourism sector, salespeople and national and international purchasers, experts and agents, administrators, as well as the general public. The main objective is the promotion of tourism in the Community of Valencia and to transmit the importance of the tourism sector as a driving force of the economy.
Do you think that our touristic image could be improved?
The Conselleria is working on an integral Plan of the image of the Community of Valencia as a tourist destination, with the objective of improving its commercialization and responding to the new demands of the market. Promotion is one of the keys to improving our competitiveness in traditional markets, and to attract new clients in the emerging ones. We want to convey an attractive and competitive image, offering a range of possibilities.
Are we making the tourist potential of Valencia known in the new markets? Our efforts are aimed at the consolidation of the Community of Valencia as a strong and mature tourist destination, with an image of diverse, highly qualified and innovative products and destinations. We are working on priority foreign markets where we are already well known - the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, and France - and strengthening others such as Scandinavia and the newly incorporated countries of the EU.
Has sun and beach tourism reached its limit, and is it now necessary to promote other, less over-exploited attractions? It isn’t that it has reached its limit, but that the Community’s great richness of resources allows us to offer a variety of destinations among which sun and beach tourism stands out.
Quality or quantity of tourism? We offer quality tourism that is evolving toward attracting segments with greater acquisitive power. The Community can rely on a competitive and attractive product, and has established itself as a destination known for its cutting edge leisure activities.
The America’s Cup and Formula 1 has lent prominence to Valencia. Is there as strategy so that the whole of the Community reaps the benefits of tourism attracted by these great events?
The 32th America’s Cup has been an event that has brought great renown to the image and reputation of Valencia and the whole of our region. It has affected the whole of the Community, given that 20% of the tourists who came to Valencia also visited other destinations. We have to succeed in having tourists discover the range of our tourist offerings once they are here.
Is the city of Valencia an example to follow?
The city of Valencia is a singular example, having positioned itself among the most important tourist cities in Spain when only a few years ago it hardly had any visitors.

 “The Community of Valencia has established itself as a destination known for its cutting edge leisure activities ”