Envie de Catalogne initiative
Thirteen tourism organisations and companies from the Girona area were promoted in the French market through the Envie de Catalogne initiative in Montpelier.
MARCH 2014
A promotional initiative aimed at the general public took place from 15th to 17th April in Montpelier, France. Entitled Envie de Catalogne, it was designed as a showcase for the French public of the scenic, cultural, tourism and festive values of Catalonia and its main tourism destinations. The Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona, in conjunction with twelve tourism organisations and companies from the Girona area (Llançà, Roses, Figueres, Castelló d’Empúries-Empuriabrava, Girona, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Lloret de Mar and Vall d’en Bas, the county councils of L’Alt Empordà and El Baix Empordà, the Tourism Association of Palafrugell and the Peralada Group) took part to present their tourism offer. Between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors were welcomed over the course of the fair.
In the evening of 14th April, a presentation of the event took place at the Maison des Relations Internationales de la Ville for the media, professionals from the tourism sector and dignitaries. Canapés were served of Catalan gastronomic products and musical accompaniment was provided by Els Cremats de la Costa Brava, who sing havaneres (colonial shanties). The presentation was attended by French dignitaries, the Director of the Catalan Tourism Agency, Xavier Espasa, and the Director of the Patronat de Turisme, Dolors Batallé.
One year before the Envie de Catalogne promotional event in Montpelier, which brought the Catalonia Year in France to a close, the Patronat de Turisme participated in a very well-attended event of a similar nature in Toulouse, during which a marketing workshop was held for tourist boards, travel agents, tour operators, works councils, associations and other organisations from the Midi-Pyrénées region.
The Patronat de Turisme became involved in this initiative to showcase the overall tourism offer of the Costa Brava and the Pirineu de Girona in an outbound tourism market that is extremely important for the counties of Girona due to its proximity.
Initiative for the future Costa Brava high-speed railway station
On the occasion of the arrival of the high-speed rail link in Figueres, the Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona, in conjunction with the SNCF company and the Elipsos hotel train, has published a triptych to present the Costa Brava and Pirineu de Girona destinations, along with 10 tourism accommodation and activities packages in the areas of l’Alt Empordà-Figueres and El Gironès-Girona. The publication has been designed to raise the profile of the destination and capture the interest of high-speed train users in France.
Furthermore, for a few days, an information stand decorated with an image of the Girona area was placed in the high-speed railway station in Montpelier, from which information was distributed on the destination.
This promotional action will be repeated in several French railway stations along the route of the high-speed rail link between Paris and the Costa Brava.
