The Torrevieja Tourism Centre, known as the CdT, has hosted the presentation of SICTED quality distinctions to 31 companies and municipal tourism services that have met the requirements of Spain’s tourism quality system.
The ceremony was presided over by the Mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón; the Councillor for Tourism, Commerce and Hospitality, Rosario Martínez; and the Director General for Tourism at the Valencian Regional Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Israel Martínez Fernández.
Before the awards ceremony, an information session was held to explain the methodological transformation of the SICTED system, promoted by Spain’s State Secretariat for Tourism. The new model updates the programme to make it more sustainable, intelligent and aligned with the current reality of the tourism sector.
Representatives from other companies already signed up to the SICTED system also attended the session to learn more about the new methodology and the process of adapting to the updated tourism quality model.
SICTED, previously known in Spanish as the “Comprehensive Tourism Quality System in Destinations”, is now being redefined as “Sustainability, Intelligence and Tourism Quality in the Destination Ecosystem”. The change reinforces the programme’s commitment to economic, social and environmental sustainability, as well as innovation and the use of advanced technological tools.
The new model offers support to stakeholders across the tourism ecosystem in implementing good practices focused on quality and sustainability as strategic pillars for improving the competitiveness of tourism destinations.
The updated SICTED also includes a new management platform and a renewed website, www.sicted.es, designed to streamline implementation processes and reduce the administrative burden for both businesses and public administrations.
Torrevieja joined the system in 2014. Turisme Comunitat Valenciana funds the training, advisory and assessment services needed for implementation, meaning there is no cost for participating companies. The programme is delivered through the collaboration agreement between the regional administration and the Chambers of Commerce.
Torrevieja currently has 67 distinguished companies and services, with a total of 103 signed up to the programme. The municipality covers 19 of the 36 professional categories included in SICTED, including eight municipal resources and services: six beaches, the Tourist Information Office, the Local Police and the La Mata-Torrevieja Natural Park.
The sectors with the highest number of distinguished services are bars and cafés, restaurants, shops, hotels and tourist apartments.
In this edition, SICTED distinctions were awarded to the following tourism services and companies: Actividades Náuticas, Apartamentos El Abuelo, Hotel Madrid, Apartamentos Marina Internacional, Restaurante Barlovento, El Parking, Velice Discoteca, Vela Beach Restaurant, La Fusión, Cai Salud, El Charro Negro, Gloria Beach Bar, Kiosco Pura Vida, Lloyd’s Beach Club, Nieves Regalos, Ociomar Torrevieja, Patio Andaluz, Playa Cabo Cervera, Playa Cala Piteras, Playa Los Náufragos, Playa del Cura, Policía Local de Torrevieja, Qtalgourmet, Restaurante Chinatown, Restaurante La Mata “El Felisa”, Restaurante Las Cañas, Restaurante Las Columnas, Restaurante El Muelle, Tasca Nueva Bahía, Viajes Maskmundo and Yacht Tex España.
There are currently 284 SICTED destinations across Spain. The Valencian Community ranks second nationally, with 1,563 distinguished tourism services, behind Andalusia and ahead of Galicia and the Region of Murcia.
