The Ribagorza County Celebrates the Progress of the Tourism Sustainability Plan for the Destination in 2024 with the Completion of Milestone 220, Reaching 34.63% Execution and Prepares for a Crucial Year for Its Tourism Transformation

Graus, December 30, 2024.

Ribagorza County has presented a positive balance of the progress of the Tourism Sustainability Plan for the Destination (PSTD), highlighting the completion of Milestone 220, with 34.63% of its execution achieved by the end of this year. This achievement, which exceeds the initial target of 30% set for December 31, reaffirms the county's commitment to transforming and modernizing its tourism offerings.

“This plan represents an extraordinary challenge and opportunity for Ribagorza. It is probably the most significant project of this legislature,” stated Roque Vicente, President of Ribagorza County, during the media presentation.

Execution Balance

In less than 10 months since the signing of the agreement with the Government of Aragón, Ribagorza County has committed a total of €1,266,827.24 in actions distributed across the four pillars of the Plan, which consists of 25 measures. Of these, 23 are already underway, covering areas from green transition to digitalization and tourism competitiveness.

The following initiatives stand out among those implemented:

• Green and Sustainable Transition: This includes actions related to natural space management, rehabilitation of exhibition spaces, and climate change adaptation actions to improve the visitor experience while ensuring the protection of the natural environment. A total of €167,000 has been allocated through direct grants via collaboration agreements with six municipalities (Graus, Sahún, Sopeira, Viacamp, Benasque, and Secastilla) to carry out conditioning works in areas of access to water bodies at Barasona, Linsoles, Paso Nuevo, Canelles, Sopeira reservoir, and El Grado reservoir in the Secastilla municipality. A collaboration protocol has been formalized between the County and the FAM for the planning, improvement, conservation, and promotion of Ribagorza's tourist trails. Within this axis, measure 1.6, the strategic plan for enhancing trails, has an allocation of €362,455 for creating thirteen new trails and maintaining existing MTB routes.
• Energy Efficiency Improvements: This focuses on actions related to sustainable mobility. Under the protocol of collaboration with the FAM, a nominative subsidy of €350,000 has been granted to FAM for the creation of three major long-distance routes: Vuelta al Turbón, Camino del Ésera, and Ruta del Noguera. Additionally, €300,000 has been allocated for the sustainable management of visitor centers and museum spaces.
• Competitiveness: Focused on improving the tourism offer, measures have been carried out to consolidate and promote recreational tourism through grants totaling €60,000 for local entities and nonprofit associations. Other actions include creating slow-driving routes, maintaining tourism establishments within the SICTED system, and creating an itinerant exhibition space. A diagnostic of heritage resources will lead to subsidy calls for heritage recovery totaling approximately €525,000.
• Digital Transition: This aims at digitalization and innovation in the tourism sector to boost competitiveness. A new grant line for tourism entrepreneurship with €207,943 has been launched, with applications open from January 1 to 30, 2025. A €70,000 digital marketing campaign for the county's tourism sector has also been rolled out. The most significant element is the joining of Ribagorza as part of the Smart Tourist Destination Network.

Preparations for 2025

Ribagorza County is preparing for next year, with key milestones such as participating in FITUR 2025, where it will receive recognition as a “Smart Tourist Destination Adhered” by SEGITTUR, the public entity responsible for implementing the DTI methodology.

“The pillars of this plan are sustainability and collaboration. We not only want to transform tourism in Ribagorza but also guarantee its future for the coming generations,” emphasized the president.

With over a year and a half left to complete the plan and reach full execution (€4,150,000), Ribagorza advances with confidence and determination toward a sustainable, inclusive, and competitive tourism model aimed at strengthening the local economy and highlighting its rich historical, cultural, and natural heritage.