Benidorm awarded ‘Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2025
Benidorm has been awarded the European Commission’s “Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2025”, which recognises cities for their innovation in sustainable tourism.
Benidorm was given the top award due to its commitment made back in 2015 to promote sustainable and smart tourism, focusing on water management, creating new green areas and building new cycle lanes. In addition it has also installed panels on public buildings and hotels to try and reduce its carbon footprint.
The results of the city’s efforts have been noted. Water consumption is down by 18 percent in comparison to 25 years ago, despite the fact that the resident population is now 40 percent bigger and tourist overnight stays have grown by 26 percent.
The city also approved its first Accessibility Plan in 2017, making urban spaces more friendly to those with accessibility needs. This included acoustic and vibrating traffic lights and installing flat platforms across over 40 city streets.
Catalonia designated World Region of Gastronomy 2025
Catalonia has been announced as the first ever European region to receive the designation of World Region of Gastronomy for 2025. The initiative promoted by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts, and Tourism (IGCAT) aims to highlight regions that contribute to improving residents’ quality of life by valuing their health, providing education on sustainable agriculture practices, and recognising the cultural relevance of its food.
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The title was awarded by an independent international jury of experts from various fields in hospitality, agriculture and tourism. To celebrate, there will be a whole host of events throughout the 2025 to celebrate Catalan cuisine including the Grand Tour of Catalonia, a gastronomic route around the region. A Gastro Map will also be created to highlight which food and drink is a speciality in which region, such as sausages from Vic, cava from the Penedès and the Palamós prawns. It will also show the areas with Denomination of Origin status.
Two new immersive spaces will open in 2025 too, including the a gastronomic centre in Falset in the wine region of Priorat and a centre focusing on seafood in Ametlla de Mar. Another highlight of the year will be the celebration of Àpat Catalunya, a popular dinner party held in Barcelona, which will feature the most iconic dishes and recipes of Catalan gastronomy.
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Taste your way around Oviedo: Spain’s Capital of Gastronomy 2024
Alicante named Spanish Capital of Gastronomy 2025
The Valencian city of Alicante has been awarded the title of Spanish Capital of Gastronomy for 2025, taking over from Oviedo in Asturias, which held the title this year. The southeastern city was awarded the accolade because of its passion and dedication for Mediterranean cuisine, all centred around rice which is the main part of culinary identity.
Alicante is known as the ‘city of one thousand and one rice dishes’, because of its sheer number and variety of local dishes featuring this ingredient such as baked, with a crust, dry, soup-like and more including arroz al horno (baked) and the iconic arroz a banda (cooked in fish stock). The varied and local ingredients that go with the rice include seafood and fish, chicken and rabbit, snails, vegetables, ribs and pork. The Alicante City of Rice quality seal certifies 37 restaurants that guarantee the best rice dishes.
Events in 2025 will include tapas routes and competitions, gastro lunches, new menus and Alicante Cocktail Week.
The Andalusian city of Antequera also got a special mention for its unique gastronomic heritage which includes porra Antequerana (a thick tomato based cold soup).