17/12/2024 – L’ALFÀS DEL PI. The 5th International Congress on Tourism and Sport, alongside the 7th edition of Sportur Galicia, the fair for sports and active tourism, was held on December 12 and 13 at Expourense. The event brought together around twenty experts to analyze the potential and influence of sports in the tourism offering.
Luis Morant, Councillor for Tourism of l’Alfàs del Pi, took part on behalf of the municipality, which is known for its management of cultural and natural heritage. The Blue Trail, the route to the Albir Lighthouse, has been recognized since 2013 as one of the main tourist assets not only locally but also at the provincial and regional level.
The congress was organized by Expourense with support from the General Secretariat for Sport of the Xunta de Galicia and the Provincial Council of Ourense. Luis Morant presented l’Alfàs del Pi’s tourism model during the roundtable “Municipal Experiences in the Blue Trails program demonstrating improved quality in active and sustainable tourism,” moderated by José Palacios Aguilar from the Environmental Education Foundation (ADEAC – FEE). He was joined in the discussion by José Juan Cerdeira, Director of the Wellbeing Area of the Provincial Council of Ourense; Cecilia Domínguez Posada, Head of the Tourism Inspection Area of the Region of Murcia’s Department of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports; and Charo Beresaluze Sánchez, Coordinator of the Blue Trails Program and Technician for ADEAC’s Blue Flag program.
Blue Trail to the Albir Lighthouse since 2013
Thanks to collaboration between the municipality of l’Alfàs del Pi, the Ministry of Environment, and the Serra Gelada Natural Park management entity, the lighthouse route is accessible to people with reduced mobility, including those using manual or electric wheelchairs. Recreational areas are adapted, terrain slopes are properly signposted, and all paths and facilities have anti-slip pavement. Walking paths have a minimum width of 1.5 meters for pedestrians and wheelchair users. The trail offers universal accessibility along a round-trip route of just under five kilometers, ending at the CIFA (Albir Lighthouse Interpretation Center), the first cultural lighthouse in the Valencian Community since 2013.
Councillor Luis Morant spoke about the ongoing policies for the conservation and restoration of cultural and natural heritage—key elements in positioning l’Alfàs as an internationally renowned tourist destination. He concluded by highlighting the tourist route “l’Alfàs Natural Connection,” which introduces visitors to the value of the award-winning Blue Centers. This 13-kilometer route with 8 stops showcases the natural heritage of l’Alfàs del Pi. “L’Alfàs is the European municipality with the most Blue Centers, making it a benchmark for smart, healthy, and sustainable tourism.”
The six certified Blue Centers are: the Albir Lighthouse Environmental Interpretation Center; ‘Los Carrascos’ Environmental and Landscape Interpretation Center; ‘La Antigua Cantera’ Environmental Interpretation Center; Los Carabineros Environmental Education Center; the Open-Air Museum of the Roman Villa of l’Albir; and the Escoles Velles Cultural Space — all recognized for excellence in management.
