The Mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, wraps up his tenure as the president of the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain this Sunday, marking an extended presidency that lasted for eighteen months. During this period, “the fifteen Spanish cities acknowledged by UNESCO for their exceptional universal values have solidified their leading position in safeguarding and advocating for our heritage,” states Luis Yeray Gutiérrez.
Starting from Monday, July 1, he will pass on the presidency to the Mayor of Santiago de Compostela, Goretti Sanmartín, with whom the Mayor of La Laguna has already held a productive meeting last April to facilitate the handover of the presidency. “I wish him great success in his new role, and he has my complete support and endorsement to ensure the heritage cities continue to progress in our goals,” remarks the current president.
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez has provided a “highly positive evaluation of a period that has been pivotal for the consolidation of the Group, marked by progress and significant consensus. We began this phase as we were emerging from the pandemic, and over these 18 months, we have enhanced collaboration among our fifteen cities, strengthening our efforts in heritage preservation, accessibility, and cultural development, and advancing the Group’s international strategy.”
La Laguna took on the responsibility of presiding over the GCPHE on January 1, 2023. Typically, the rotating presidency lasts one year, aligning with the political calendar. However, La Laguna extended its mandate for an additional six months to restore the normal cycle between July 1 and June 30, which was disrupted in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The mayor highlights that during these 18 months, strengthened strategic alliances have enabled the Group to gain a broader international dimension. On one hand, in terms of promoting tourism, thanks to agreements with the Ministry of Tourism and Turespaña, as well as collaborations with brands like Paradores and Madrid Destino, and participation in major trade fairs such as Fitur, World Travel Market, or ITB in Berlin, along with active engagement in international campaigns and conferences across Europe, Asia, and America. On the other hand, through agreements with similar entities such as the recent one signed with the Association of Mexican World Heritage Cities (ANCMPM).
The mayor highlights one of the key achievements during La Laguna’s presidency as the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Group’s establishment, with commemorative events still ongoing in the fifteen cities. As part of this milestone, standout events include the private audience granted by Pope Francis at the private library of the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican to the fifteen mayors, and the exceptional concert held in La Laguna’s cathedral last March, attended by Queen Sofia.
In the realm of culture, the support and agreements reached with the Ministry of Culture have been crucial, facilitating the organization of numerous events. Over these 18 months, the Heritage Cities have enhanced their cultural offerings (with the Heritage Night being the flagship event), as well as sports activities (thanks to the Racing Circuit or the Rugby 7 tournament), hosting technical training sessions on various aspects related to asset management, and renewing agreements to enhance accessibility, such as the agreement signed with the ONCE Foundation. The First National Congress of Brotherhoods and Brotherhoods of Holy Week and World Heritage Cities has also been organised as part of the strategy aimed at preserving and promoting the intangible heritage of the cities.
Also, within the framework of the 30th anniversary, the Group approved, in Ávila, a roadmap for the safeguarding of its monumental legacy, committing to “enhancing dialogue with other administrations; involving citizens, social actors, and private entities in the shared responsibility of heritage preservation; and particularly engaging younger generations in appreciating our heritage legacy to ensure the continuity of the principles defining the Group,” as outlined in the document approved by the Assembly.
