The tourism sector generates close to 39 million euros in income in the accommodation establishments on the island and maintains a close connection with more than 3,000 jobs.
The tourist offices of San Sebastián, Playa Santiago and Valle Gran Rey host a special decoration focused on gastronomy, crafts and Gomero cultural heritage
The Cabildo of La Gomera commemorates World Tourism Day by highlighting the weight of this activity in the socioeconomic fabric of the island, both for its capacity to generate wealth and employment and for its contribution to the maintenance and revitalization of other activities linked to the territory, including gastronomy, agri-food production, commerce and crafts.
Thus, the island president, Casimiro Curbelo, highlighted that “accommodation activity generates close to 39 million euros in income, a figure that shows the economic dimension that tourism has achieved within the island productive structure.” “Added to this is its impact on the labor market and on a services sector that concentrates a substantial part of affiliations,” he added.
Curbelo pointed out that tourism "is a fundamental piece of the Gomera economy and has an impact that goes far beyond accommodation establishments, because it generates activity in restaurants, commerce, transportation, the primary sector or crafts."
For her part, the insular Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Consumption, María Isabel Méndez, emphasized the need to continue consolidating a tourism model linked to the differential values of La Gomera. “Our objective must be that the wealth generated by tourism has a positive and sustainable return on the entire territory and society,” he said.
The commemoration of World Tourism Day thus serves to make visible this link between tourist activity and the rest of the island economy, with a decoration that during this week turns the tourist offices of San Sebastián de La Gomera, Playa Santiago and Valle Gran Rey into spaces to approach the gastronomy and cultural heritage of the island.
“During this week, we show the visitor that behind the tourist experience of La Gomera there is an entire network of producers, artisans, establishments and professionals that contribute to shaping the identity of our destination,” added Méndez.
In this way, the three offices have a special atmosphere inspired by the Gomera identity, with compositions that incorporate pieces of traditional crafts, musical instruments and other elements related to the customs and culture of the island. The proposal is completed with tastings of local products such as fruits, honey, cookies, almogrote and traditional sweets.
Thus, during the celebration, the offices expand their usual function of tourist information to also become meeting points with culture, crafts and local production, allowing those who visit La Gomera to learn about some of the elements that characterize the island as a destination. In addition, information is provided on establishments, shops, workshops, markets and other points where the products and pieces on display can be purchased.
