Costa Brava and Dalí in Paris
The destination is promoted in the French market, coinciding with the Salvador Dalí exhibition held at the Pompidou Centre in Paris.
MARCH 2014
On 28th February the Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona, the Catalan Tourism Agency and Turespaña invited 170 tourism professionals, including Catalan and French public authorities, French travel agencies and journalists, and representatives of tourism bodies and companies from the Girona area, to attend a special event.
The promotional initiative was split into two parts: a workshop was held that brought together representatives of 50 Catalan tourism companies (mostly from the Girona area), who travelled to Paris for the occasion, and representatives of 60 French wholesale travel agencies that schedule and market the destinations of the Girona area; meanwhile, while the workshop was taking place, 60 journalists were given an exclusive guided tour of the exhibition. This was followed by a destination presentation entitled "Catalonia – Costa Brava and Pirineu de Girona" and a gastronomic cocktail party prepared by the chef Quim Casellas, representing the Empordà Gastronomic School.
The goal of this major promotional initiative, scheduled by the Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona to coincide with the Salvador Dalí exhibition at the Pompidou Centre in Paris, was to inform French tour operators, travel influencers and journalists of the tourism resources, products and services offered by the Costa Brava and the Pirineu de Girona for the 2013 season. The initiative was carried out in conjunction with the Gala - Salvador Dalí Foundation and SNCF, the company that runs the French high-speed rain (TGV).
The Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona sees Salvador Dalí as an icon of Catalan culture and feels that his artistic profile adds value to the Costa Brava brand, which is why it has made him the first great ambassador of the tourist destination. The Gala - Salvador Dalí Foundation also believes that the Dalí - Costa Brava link generates synergies that benefit their common interests.
Catalonia welcomed more than 3.8 million French tourists in 2012
According to the Business and Employment Observatory, in 2012 Catalonia welcomed over 3.8 million French tourists, an increase of 7.7% in respect of 2011. These tourists generated over 1.9 billion euros of revenue, 3.3% less than in 2011.
