The city of León, in Spain, hosted the VI Professional Conference of Campsites in Castile and León, organized by the Association of Campsite Entrepreneurs of Castile and León (ASECAL) and sponsored by the regional government. The event, held at the Exhibition and Congress Palace, welcomed over 70 industry professionals, including campsite managers (both members and non-members of ASECAL), service providers, institutional representatives, and presidents of campsite associations from neighboring regions.
The director general of tourism, Ángel González Pieras, emphasized the importance of tourism as a solution to counteract rural depopulation, highlighting the central role of campsites in promoting sustainable and high-quality tourism. He also encouraged the use of public funding to improve facilities and services, stressing the need for digitalization and innovation to tackle future challenges. León’s deputy mayor, Mercedes Escudero, welcomed participants and invited them to explore the city’s streets.
During the event, promotional videos about the city of León and the region were shown, emphasizing the importance of showcasing cultural and environmental heritage to attract quality tourism. Octavio González, the provincial deputy for tourism, also addressed the audience, expressing gratitude for choosing León as the venue for the conference.
ASECAL president Ignacio Reguero highlighted the progress made in the sector, particularly in improving facilities and adopting sustainable practices. However, he also underscored the need for collaboration with authorities to meet the growing demands of customers. He expressed solidarity with communities affected by the DANA storm, especially those in neighboring areas.
A significant moment during the conference was the presentation of ASECAL’s gold insignia by its president to Saturnino López, owner of Camping Río Luna, in recognition of his contribution to campsite tourism.
The event featured a workshop with companies providing products and services for campsites and conferences on topics such as commercialization, artificial intelligence in tourism, and digital transformation. Álvaro García, CEO of the Campingred chain, spoke about the importance of technological innovation, while Guillermo González (ASECALconsultant) and Juan Luis Sáez (president of the Basque Country Campsite Association) discussed regulatory changes to billing systems, set to take effect in 2025.
In the opening photo: Ángel González Pieras director general of tourism
Italy, from the PNRR the incentives to replace and expand air conditioning systems and heat pumps