Turisme requests citizen participation in preparation of new decree to regulate gastronomic activity in Valencian region

Tuesday 1st February 2022 – XÀBIA AL DÍA with Mike Smith

The General Directorate of Tourism is working on the creation of a new decree to regulate gastronomy as a tourist activity in the Comunidad Valenciana and is calling on residents and the tourism sector to participate.

The regional tourism secretary, Francesc Colomer, explained the restaurant sector in the region is currently regulated by a standard that has been obsolete and that in recent years gastronomy has become an element of culture and “a way of life”.

Thus, he explained that his department is working on the preparation of new regulations that respond to the current situation rather than one from more a decade ago, and that he wants to have the consensus of the affected sector as well as citizens in the region to develop a new decree.

Specifically, citizens can participate in the future decree to regulate gastronomy as a tourism activity as well as the restaurant establishments in the Comunidad Valenciana through a participation process by submitting comments and suggestions between January 25th and February 8th.

Colomer stressed that the regional government want the future regulation of gastronomic tourism of the Comunidad Valenciana to have the greatest possible citizen participation to build together a quality gastronomic offer which stimulates and diversifies tourism, promotes local development and involves diverse professional sectors, even giving new uses to the primary sector.

In addition, the new draft decree aims to establish conditions that establishments in the region must meet so that gastronomy is one more reason to visit the Comunidad Valenciana.

11 discussions on key issues of gastronomy tourism

In this process, 11 topics are raised on key issues regarding gastronomic tourism in which all interested parties can contribute their opinion. In addition, the possibility of presenting proposals and initiatives is offered.

Open discussions are raised around these issues:

• Do you consider that the gastronomy of the Comunidad Valenciana can be an essential tourist attraction?
  
• Do you think that it is necessary to differentiate between establishments that favour tourist activity and those that are not related? Or do you consider that all hospitality establishments are intrinsically touristic?
  
• What minimum conditions must restaurant establishments meet?
  
• Do you think that tourism regulation should refer exclusively to local gastronomy
  
• What other services should gastronomic establishments have to differentiate themselves by their quality?
  
• In what aspects do you think the training of sector personnel (waiters, cooks, etc.) could be improved?
  
• Would you travel just to enjoy gastronomy?
  
• Do you think that the Comunidad Valenciana has enough good quality restaurant establishments?
  
• When you choose a restaurant to eat, what do you expect to find?
  
• What establishments do you think should be in the Register of Gastronomic Establishments of the Comunidad Valenciana?
  
• Do you consider that gourmet stores with some type of restaurant service should be under the regulation of this decree and be included in the aforementioned registry?

The citizen participation process has been open since January 25 and will end on February 8, and can be done through this external link: CLICK.