15 Feb 2023
Sustainability
SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR SPAIN'S FIRST SUSTAINABLE MEDIA AWARDS
The Spanish Tourist Office (UK) is inviting journalists to submit articles for its inaugural Sustainable Media Awards. The awards will recognise the work of 2022 UK Media that highlights sustainable travel themes within Spain, which could include social, cultural, economic and environmental factors. The categories will recognise the importance of forming a connection with local people and cultures when visiting, whilst also minimising any harmful impact on communities and the environment. Travelling sustainably means exploring lesser visited areas, visiting out of season and taking part in low-impact activities such as cycling and walking.
2023 Categories (UK MEDIA ONLY):
- Consumer National Newspaper Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year Award (print)
- Consumer Magazine Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year Award (print)
- Regional Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year (print/online)
- Online Consumer Sustainable Tourism Feature of the Year Award
- Sustainable Blog, Vlog or Podcast of the Year Award
- Top published Spain photographs
Those shortlisted to win an Award will be invited to the Spain's Sustainable Media Awards Ceremony, held on the 26 April 2023 at The Conduit, where the winners will be announced. To submit entries for Spain's Sustainable Awards please visit here.
https://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spain-sustainability-media-awards/
PARADORES STRENGTHENS ITS SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT WITH NEW INVESTMENT AND ECO-INITIATIVES
Paradores, Spain's state-run cultural and historic hotels, is investing in bold new initiatives to continue to drive the sustainable transformation of the hospitality sector. This includes allocating €334 million over the next 5 years to refurbish properties, drive energy efficiency and promote circularity across its hotel network, and collaborating with Renfe, Spain's national railway company to jointly offer eco-friendly rail and accommodation packages. Renfe's high-speed trains are powered by renewable energy and emit less CO2 per passenger per kilometre than cars or planes, making them a more environmentally friendly option for travellers to travel around Spain.
BARCELONA NATURAL PARK STUDIES BONELLI'S EAGLE
The Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park in Barcelona has been selected for a new Tech4Nature project to study how tourism impacts the park's ecosystem, as it is home to the Bonelli's eagle. Since the pandemic, the park has seen an increase in visitors, which reflects a growth in leisure and tourism in peri-urvan spaces and rangers have since observed changes in patterns of the behaviour of the Bonelli's eagle, which nests in the park and is listed as vulnerable by the Spanish Red Book of Birds.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Huawei plan to develop and deploy a tech-based solution of cameras and GPS receivers. By forming an alert-detection system, the rangers will observe and monitor the mobility of the eagle and determine the factors that could disturb its reproductive success. The data will then be used to establish a plan to protect the species.
Culture
EVENTS ANNOUNCED FOR YEAR OF SOROLLA
2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Joaquín Sorolla, Valencia's most renowned impressionist painter who captured the light of the Mediterranean in his works.
The Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia is exhibiting The Origins of Sorolla from 30 March to 11 June 2023 which will exhibit a number of his earlier, and lesser-known, pieces. The Museum will host a second exhibition from 29 June to 1 October 2023 that will feature 46 of the artists most renowned pieces. The museum has permanent exhibitions of his work such as "Grupa valenciana" and "Figuras de casacas jugando en un jardín".
Transport
PALMA UNVEILS INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING A NEW TRAMWAY PROJECT
The Palma 365 Tourism Foundation has unveiled new infrastructure developments aiming to consolidate the Balearic capital as a quality tourist destination. Among these initiatives are a new tramway project to make the city easier to navigate and promote the use of public transportation; as well as the repaving of the Plaça d'Espanya, from where visitors can catch the popular wooden train to Sóller. Palma's beach promenade, the Paseo Marítimo, is undergoing a total transformation, in addition to public lighting across the city being changed to LED lighting – an initiative which has already reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 35% in the last year.
MADRID'S CLEAN BUS FLEET
Madrid has introduced a new fleet of 1,291 clean buses to replace diesel buses previously running in the public transport network in the city. 12 diesel buses of the EMT (Empresa Municipal de Transportes) were taken out of commission this month, and were replaced with clean buses that comply with the provisions of the Clean Vehicles Directive set out by the European Union. This places Madrid as a European leader of clean public transport as the 75th anniversary of EMT draws near. In 2023, EMT will have a completely clean fleet composed of 1,915 CNG buses, those that drive on gas instead of diesel, and 180 electric buses. Next year, 10 hydrogen buses and another 150 electric buses will be added.
Madrid es la primera gran ciudad europea con flota buses 100 % limpia | Nexotrans
Spotlight
FESTIVAL SEASON IN NAVARRA
In Navarra, Northern Spain, an array of exciting regional carnivals are held that offer a warm atmosphere during the colder months. The Altsasu carnival, held in the areas Sakana or Barranca, is a colourful celebration which sees the town dress as Momotxorros, participants dressed in blood red costumes with huge horns. The characters take part in thrilling dances, stampeding around the towncentre to intimidate all those attending with Sardas (pitchforks).
https://www.visitnavarra.es/en/w/carnivals-of-navarre-magic-and-tradition
