Pedro Sánchez announces an investment of more than 500 million euros to preserve and revitalise cultural heritage and encourage tourism in Valencia

International Trade Fair (IFEMA), Madrid

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, uses a train driving simulator during his visit to the RENFE stand (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has encouraged Spaniards to "choose Valencia more than ever this year" for tourism and has announced a major event to celebrate 40 years of Turespaña in Valencia in June. He also announced an investment of more than 500 million euros in programmes for the conservation and tourism promotion of cultural heritage assets in all territories. He made this announcement during his speech at the event 'Historical and cultural heritage as an engine of tourism diversification,' which was also attended by the Minister for Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, and the Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente.

Within the framework of the 45th International Tourism Fair-FITUR2025, Pedro Sánchez congratulated Turespaña for its four decades of work, which "have enabled it to move from 'Spain is different' to 'Spain is one of the best,' positioning it as a leading "first-rate power" in tourism, as the second largest global tourist destination. After the impact of "15 bleak months" due to COVID in a sector responsible for 11.6% of employment and 12.3% of Spain's annual GDP, Pedro Sánchez remarked that there was a "hunger for recovery" and work was done to "send a message of confidence from Spain to the whole world." The blow of the pandemic "did not break us, just as the terrible blow of the DANA will not break the Valencian Community," as "Valencia is more than ready to welcome back so many visitors in love with its culture, its gastronomy, its beaches and its people," he emphasised, a day after meeting with the mayors of the area.

"We have a wonderful country. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to publicly call on Spaniards to choose Spain. And, if you can, choose Valencia in particular. This year more than ever", Pedro Sánchez encouraged, urging that "in the next Fallas, next summer, and throughout this year and the years to come, tourism will also be an engine of Valencian recovery" and a sign of the "collective solidarity of an entire country with a land that we all carry in our hearts and that needs us more than ever."

A record-breaking sector, an engine of growth

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his visit to the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

In his speech, the president of the Government of Spain pointed out that tourism is "one of the engines that allows us to sail the skies," as "resoundingly" confirmed by the record 94 million foreign visitors recorded in 2024, a 10% increase, and the 126 billion euros spent, a 16% increase. "Spain is a country open to the world, hospitable and welcoming" that "is fashionable and captivating," with an "absolutely extraordinary image, projection and interest," which he said he saw this week at the Davos Economic Forum.

In this respect, he pointed out that the tourism sector is one of the engines of growth, accounting for more than a quarter of the growth, and has contributed to Spain growing by more than 3% last year, more than double that of Germany, France and Italy, that it will grow by more than 2% in the coming years and that more than 400,000 jobs will be created in 2025 and 2026. In fact, the industry is growing at more than twice the rate of the overall economy, he noted.

Deseasonalisation, diversification and sustainable quality

According to Pedro Sánchez, Spain is "growing more and better" than other countries, reducing inequalities and CO2 emissions. In this sense, he thanked the tourism sector for its contribution to this with "better paid and more stable jobs," with an above-average wage increase of 3.2% in 2024, and reducing temporary employment by 7.2% due to the increase in permanent contracts. In addition, the hotel and restaurant sector has reduced its emissions by 19% since 2018. Despite the significant progress, he encouraged the sector to "look to the future with enthusiasm and determination" and make progress in the quality and sustainability of the model based on three priority axes: promoting deseasonalisation, focusing on diversification and committing to sustainable quality.

Pedro Sánchez, together with the Ministers for Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, and Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, and the management team of Paradores, during their visit to the stand of this public hotel chain | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

On the subject of deseasonalisation, he explained that "it means making a profit in November or February", something that is already happening, given that arrivals in the low season shot up by almost 20% between 2018 and 2024 and tourist spending has increased in the eight months of a low season. "These figures speak of a transformation that is already here and that is good because it means less overcrowding and more sustainability," he said. With regard to the diversification of the offer, he stressed that "few countries in the world offer more attractions than Spain, with a "unique and diverse culture; a varied gastronomy like few others in the world; or a history unparalleled in Europe and throughout the world."

Furthermore, Spain is the fourth country in Europe and fifth in the world with the highest number of properties declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, and has more than 42,000 movable and immovable properties with the highest level of protection, spread throughout the country. In order to maintain and conserve this heritage, Pedro Sánchez announced that more than 500 million euros will be invested in different programmes for the conservation and tourism promotion of cultural heritage assets in all regions. Specifically, he referred to archaeological areas or National Heritage assets to be rehabilitated, as well as "great icons" of cultural tourism, such as the National Library, the Reina Sofía National Museum and the Prado Museum. "We are going to make a strong commitment to cultural tourism and territorial cohesion," he added.

Finally, he urged a commitment to "quality, responsible and sustainable tourism." Although Spain is already a world leader in average spending per tourist and in overnight stays, he indicated that it is necessary to "consolidate this leadership by opening up new markets with great growth potential, guaranteeing that tourism is sustainable and generates more benefits for everyone and training in human capital". "It's about innovating so as not to die of success or live on rents; it's about betting on quality, knowing that sometimes 'less is more'. But that, if we get it right, the recipe can be 'more is better'," he added.

Redistributing growth: better wages, pensions and benefits

The Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, the President of the Principality of Asturias, Adrián Barbón, and the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during their visit to the Asturias stand at FITUR | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

In this way, he pointed out that the Government will continue to work on the same economic policy that has led Spain to reach the "summit of global tourism" and to redistribute the fruits of growth "with better salaries, higher pensions and aid to affected sectors such as the DANA and to citizens, because these measures are not a reward for the Government". They are, he said, "a reward for the millions of Spaniards who have earned them with the sweat of their brow, in very difficult circumstances, with their work and with their taxes, and no partisan calculation should deny these rights to the people".

The president of the Government of Spain also referred to the importance of a "dynamic business sector committed to the territory" and the "commitment of the workers" in the sector, the "best asset" for whom he called for "care, investment in their training and the search for imaginative solutions so that they can live with dignity in stressed tourist areas." "Let us continue to join forces and intelligence, innovating to open markets and offer new experiences, making Spain today the best country in the world to visit, live and enjoy," he concluded.

Non official translation