- Home
- Tourism update
TOURISM UPDATE
The Valencian Institute of Tourism Technologies will be up and running in 2009
The Regional Department for Tourism will be launching the Valencian Institute of Tourism Technologies (INVAT.TUR) next September. This aim of this centre, based in Benidorm, is to promote R&D and Innovation among agents of the tourist industry in the Region of Valencia, setting international standards for research into the phenomenon of tourism.
Among the various actions planned, INVAT·TUR will provide support for innovation through technology transfer activities, develop R&D projects to maximise the knowledge generated within the institute itself, and provide technological consultancy services. The ultimate aim is to foster innovation culture as a tool to improve competitiveness in companies and to facilitate the creation of networks for innovative companies.
The launch of INVAT.TUR is clear evidence of the Regional Department for Tourism's commitment to R&D and Innovation activities, one of the main priorities defined in the Region of Valencia's Tourism Competitiveness Plan 2009 - 2011. In fact, as part of the Competitiveness Plan, an analysis has already been performed and the results have been used to help design and implement actions and specific R&D and Innovation projects.
Meetings with industry representatives
In order to decide how to organise and manage the project, the Regional Department for Tourism has recently held a series of meetings with representatives of the tourism industry, including the Benidorm and Costa Blanca Hotel Business Association (Hosbec), the Region of Valencia Hotel Federation, the Region of Valencia Camping Federation, the Association of Holiday Apartments, Conhostur and a broad representative sample of Travel Agencies from the Region.
An ambitious project
In May 2007, the Regional Department for Tourism launched a tender competition to award the construction contract for the Valencian Institute of Tourism Technologies, for an estimated cost of €6 million. Of this total amount, €4 million would be allocated to the construction work itself, and the remaining amount to fitting out the interior. The project arose from the need to implement new technologies in the tourism sector, enhance the quality of the Region's tourist product and achieve excellence in the tourist industry.
INVAT.TUR is located in a 5,000 m2 plot of land granted by Benidorm City Council, right by the motorway exit and close to the City's Courthouse. The building itself covers an area of 2,432 m2 and incorporates classrooms, an auditorium, library, laboratories and research offices.
