The Sun&Blue Congress 2024, the benchmark event for sustainable tourism linked to the marine and coastal environment, has awarded the prestigious Best Blue Destination 2024 award to the municipality of Vera for its innovative project “Your Winter Beaches.” This recognition positions Vera as a leader in the implementation of blue tourism initiatives, standing out for its ability to boost the coastline throughout the year and promote sustainable practices.
The Sun&Blue Congress 2024 Awards have a jury composed of renowned experts from the public and private sectors, who recognize the best initiatives in different categories, such as sustainability in gastronomy, innovation in artificial intelligence applied to blue tourism, resilience to climate change, and decarbonization in port management, among others.
During the award ceremony, the mayor of Vera, Alfonso García Ramos, expressed his gratitude and highlighted the collective effort behind the success of the project: “‘Your Winter Beaches’ was created with the aim of taking advantage of our climate and natural environment to offer a unique experience all year round. This award is the result of teamwork between the local administration, tourism companies, and citizens who have embraced this project. We will continue working to turn our coastline into a dynamic and vibrant space 365 days a year, reaffirming our identity as a sustainable and innovative destination.”.
Vera, a Model of Sustainability and Innovation
Vera, with a maritime strip 5 kilometers long and extensive beaches bathed by the waters of the Mediterranean, combines natural beauty, environmental quality, and effective management that have led it to obtain prestigious distinctions and certifications.
One of the City Council’s projects that has consolidated Vera as a benchmark in blue tourism is “Your Winter Beaches,” a pioneering initiative that takes place every weekend between the months of October and May, low season in traditional tourism. This program was created with the aim of taking advantage of the region’s mild climate and its privileged natural environment to offer a more sustainable tourism alternative beyond the summer.
With leisure, sports, and art activities, “Your Winter Beaches” promotes healthy habits and highlights the diversity and beauty of the Vera coastline and its wetlands. In addition, it seeks to raise awareness among both tourists and residents about the positive impact of blue tourism, offering opportunities to enjoy the sea and the sun as sources of health and well-being during the quieter months of the year.
The initiative has managed to attract numerous visitors on days that combine sports, healthy leisure, and well-being during the autumn, winter, and spring months. Activities such as yoga, pilates, beach volleyball, and outdoor painting have generated a significant social and economic impact, especially for the hotel, restaurant, and local commerce sectors.
In addition, this project has contributed to the deseasonalization of tourism, promoting the participation of diverse families and groups thanks to an accessible and inclusive offer. Residents have positively valued this initiative, describing it as a key tool for the economic and social sustainability of the municipality.
In the words of Carolina Pérez Gallardo, First Deputy Mayor, she highlights the importance of this project as an economic engine for the town and adds that “thanks to the success of the first edition, the Vera City Council has expanded in this second edition both the number of days and months in which the initiative takes place, as well as the activities that are offered, in order to continue revitalizing our beaches and attract a more diverse public.”
Through the use of advanced technologies, such as bracelets with microchips to guarantee the safety of the little ones, the project also promotes digitization as a tool for the efficient and sustainable management of tourism.
With this distinction, Vera is consolidated as a benchmark in blue tourism, combining sustainability, innovation, and well-being in its initiatives.
