Yesterday, La Orotava City Council hosted the Cittaslow International Supporter La Orotava award ceremony for Quality of Life. The meeting was chaired by the mayor, Francisco Linares; the delegate councilor for Tourism, Delia Escobar, and the rector of the European University of the Canary Islands and expert in International Tourism, Cristina Oliveira. In addition, the latter was a member of the jury and read the minutes. There was also an online intervention by Albert Costa, manager of the Cittaslow Spain Network, and members of the Municipal Corporation.
In accordance with the values and philosophy of cittaslow, the jury for this third edition agreed to award the distinction to nine local companies: Asociación Belenista Taoro, Bodegón Los Compadres, Canarias Concept, Grupo Caracoles, Restaurante Gran Tarajal, rural hotel Victoria, Murga Los Virgueritos- socio-cultural project, Silene Orotava pension and Tasca Venta El Gomero. The winners were given a handmade ceramic plaque alluding to the theme with the logo of the Cittaslow International Association, and the corresponding certificate.
The mayor considered that it is necessary to adapt to the times and change the tourist models. In this sense, he pointed out that he does not share the fact that tourist cities are only classified based on the number of beds, assuring that the Villa is a tourist municipality since it has numerous resources and values that would allow it to receive this classification and benefit from what this entails in positive for the town.
For her part, Delia Escobar explained the multiple values associated with receiving this distinctive seal of international quality and unique tourist attraction. Along these lines, he stressed that the thirty companies that are already part of the project comply with cittaslow’s philosophy, for which they are committed to the preservation of traditions, local products, sustainability, the circular economy, crafts, savings energy, as well as for education in values, good treatment, protection of the environment and heritage.
La Orotava Since 2018 it can boast of being one of the cities in the world with this value of international quality, one of the 12 in Spain that make up this national network, and the only municipality in the Canary Islands.
