The main event of the Centenary

The main commemorative event of the Centenary of the Costa Brava brought the Catalan Government together with mayors and tourism sector businesspeople of the Costa Brava for a useful day of leisure and dialogue that focused on the state of the Catalan tourism industry.

On 12^th September 2009, the Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona invited the Catalan Government, headed by President Montilla, to commemorate the Centenary of the Costa Brava with a visit to the destination and a meeting with mayors and tourism sector businesspeople in two venues of great natural, cultural and tourism value, namely the Medes Isles and the Archaeological Museum of Empúries.

The President used his visit to the area to attend the Salt Festival held in L’Escala. The President of the Catalan Government, José Montilla, who was also appointed President of the Honorary Committee of the Costa Brava by the Coordinating Committee on 12^th September 2008, presided over an emblematic event that highlighted the involvement and participation of the Catalan Government in the Centenary of the Costa Brava. The Catalan Government declared 2009 as the Costa Brava Year in the tourism sector. During his speech, the President of the Patronat de Turisme, Enric Vilert, stated, “We see this visit as a show of interest by the Catalan Government in the progress of the tourism activity of the oldest and one of the most important tourism brands in the country”. Vilert added, “The Centenary has given us a platform for the international promotion of our country and, obviously, the Costa Brava throughout 2010”.

Referring to the Costa Brava, the President of the Catalan Government stated, “Catalonia, now more than ever, needs one of its tourism flagships to maintain and increase its attractiveness by adapting its quality offer to current circumstances and preparing for an increasingly demanding future for all of us”. President Montilla added, “The Costa Brava is a tremendous treasure for Catalonia that must be made to shine”.

Having reached the halfway point of the celebrations and promotion of the Centenary of the Costa Brava, an initiative of the Patronat de Turisme to be implemented in Catalonia and the rest of Spain, a new stage has got underway that will end in December 2010. This new stage involves an effort to promote the Costa Brava internationally through actions and events in the destination’s main tourism issuing markets.

The natural values and tourism uses of the Costa Brava coastline are highlighted in a sea trip.

The President of the Catalan Government, José Montilla, accompanied by the Catalan Minister for Innovation, Universities and Enterprise, Josep Huguet, the Catalan Minister for Environment and Housing, Francesc Baltasar, the President of the Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona, Enric Vilert, the Coordinating Committee of the Centenary and several local experts on nature, tourism and the environment, sailed aboard the Marina Princess from L’Estartit to L’Escala, passing by the nature reserve of the Medes Isles.

The Catalan Government held a meeting with mayors and tourism sector businesspeople of the Costa Brava to address current issues affecting tourism development in Catalonia.

The Archaeological Museum of Empúries was the venue for the meeting between the Catalan Government, the mayors and councillors of the twenty-two town councils of the Costa Brava, and several representatives of the tourism sector. 

The Patronat de Turisme organised the meeting in order for opinions to be exchanged on current issues affecting the development of tourism activity in Catalonia and future projects.

The meeting took place in the gardens of the Archaeological Museum and was attended by sixty guests. It ended with a lunch prepared by the Young Chefs’ Association, using dishes from the Centenary Menu.