The second workshop of our Erasmus+ journey took place between 4 and 6 of March 2024, in Spain – Santa Olalla del Cala, Huelva Province.

 

The objective of the workshop was to identify the best practices and tools for the development of rural tourism activity and its potential.

 

This workshop was the second of its kind in the DIGI-ECONAFACUGAS Project, a project created by five environmental institutions: 2 from Spain, 1 from Slovakia, 1 from Austria and 1 from Romania, co-financed by the European Union's Erasmus+ Programme - namely: CESEFOR and Fundacion Monte Mediterraneo from Spain, Hochschule FUR AGRAR from Austria, Lišov Muzeum from Slovakia and Propark - Foundation for Protected Areas, from Romania.

 

You can see here information about the first workshop that took place in Romania, in July 2023 (link to the first press release).

The main objective of the DIGI-ECONAFACUGAS Project is to analyze the current scenario of rural tourism and the digital tools presented in this sector, in the four partner countries. Also, it is important to enhance the experience exchange between the partners through these face-to-face workshops, in order to define the current needs of rural, ethnocultural and ecological tourism and to collect examples of good digital practices in this sector.

 

During the 2 days face to face workshop the Erasmus+ partners were engaged in different activities:

 

- Tour of the Dehesa San Francisco and the visit to of some unique natural monuments and places, such as the a century-old oak Quercus ilex subsp rontundifolia - declared nature monument in 2001 or a certified vulture feeding point. Our host was Fundacion Monte Mediterraneo.

 

- Presentation of the Regional Rural Development Agency, with the participantion of:

• Antonio Plaza – president of the Governing Board of the Natural Park of the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche
• Antonio Jose Lopez – Director of the Park
• Luis Vazques – coordinator of Tourism of the Provincial Council
• Francisco Morales – from the Destino Huelvo Agency
• Judith Muñoz, head of the delegation of Tourism

 

- Visit to the Peña de Hierro Mine – considered a Protected Landscape and a railroad trip – part of the track that since 1875 connects the mines with the Port of Huelva, along the natural course of the Tinto River, the unique red river that runs through the province of Huelva.

 

This face-to-face workshop completes the exchange of experiences among the project partners in order to define the current needs of rural, ecological and ethnocultural tourism and to collect examples of good digital practices in this sector.