Industry | 7/10/2025

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism launches a new call for €9 M in aid for Innovative Business Groups

The grants are aimed at fostering cooperation between companies, technology hubs and other agents of the innovative ecosystem, by developing collaborative projects that contribute to the digitalisation, sustainability and transformation of the productive fabric.

Tourism | 7/9/2025

The festival Dos Entroidos do Oriente Ourensán is declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest.

The carnivals of the municipalities of Manzaneda, Viana do Bolo and Vilariño de Conso, in the province of Orense, receive this joint distinction for their ancestral character and cultural values.. The Secretary of State, Rosario Sánchez, values the union between the town councils to make the request and that their festivities ‘have been preserved to a greater extent than in other places’. These are traditional carnivals in neighbouring towns, and the residents of each municipality, grouped together in folións (processions), join in the celebrations in other municipalities.

Industry | 7/8/2025

Jordi García Brustenga, new Secretary of State for Industry

Until now, García Brustenga was Director General for Industrial Strategy and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. The new Secretary of State holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from Pompeu Fabra University, an Executive Master's Degree in Public Management (EMPA) from ESADE, and an official Master's Degree in Strategic Management and Business Communication from the University of Vic.

Tourism | 7/4/2025

International tourists will spend around €58 billion in Spain this summer, 3.8% more than in 2024.

In June, July, August and September, almost 42 million international tourists are expected in Spain, 3.2% more than in the same period in 2024 Jordi Hereu highlights the attractiveness of a leading tourism sector, an international benchmark in terms of quality and sustainability thanks to the boost provided by unprecedented public investment in recent decades Once again this summer, tourist spending will be higher than the number of visitors, which is in line with the Government's philosophy of prioritising quality over quantity, one of the fundamental axes of the change in the tourism model Spain will continue to grow in terms of tourists in the high season, but at a slower rate than in the rest of the year, which contributes to consolidating the change in the tourism model towards de-seasonalisation and de-concentration of destinations The minister closed the El Escorial summer course run by the Secretary of State for Tourism on the capacity of administrations to provide the sector with new instruments to govern the tourism of the future

Industry | 7/3/2025

Hereu reminds that on Monday 7th the period for submitting projects to the PERTE VEC IV battery line opens

During his speech, the minister highlighted the value of the PowerCo gigafactory project, which has an investment of €3 billion and will generate more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. The Minister for Industry recalled that this project has been awarded more than €260 million from the PERTE VEC, an instrument to support private companies in the sector that has already allocated €2,500 billion to innovation and development projects in the Spanish motor sector, benefiting more than 300 companies.

Tourism | 7/2/2025

Spending by international tourists exceeded €46.5 billion up to May, 8% more than in the same period in 2024

International tourist arrivals in Spain in the first five months of 2025 exceeded 35 million, 5.5% more than in the same period last year In May, 9.3 million international tourists came to Spain, an increase of 1.5% year-on-year, who spent a total of 12.2 billion, up 4.8% Spending at destination in the “Rest of Communities” (which excludes the six most visited ones) was up 16.4% in May

Industry | 7/1/2025

Constitution of the State Observatory on Private Late Payments

This Observatory was created as a consultative body and will be responsible for monitoring payment deadlines and fostering best practices. For the minister Jordi Hereu, late payment is one of the main causes of financial difficulties for SMEs.On an annual basis, the State Observatory on Private Late Payments will draw up a report on the situation of payment periods, which will be presented and approved by the State Council of SMEs.

Industry | 7/1/2025

Hereu announces the next call for proposals to support Innovative Business Clusters with €9 million in funding

The minister highlighted the unprecedented support that the government is providing toSMEs. 41% of the funds awarded through competitive PRTR calls have benefited SMEs, and more than 500,000 have received direct support from the Plan since 2021 Hereu highlights the transcendental role of thePERTEs, and announces the new call for proposals for the recently mergedIDIand Activa Financiación line, which will be launched next September. The Minister of Industry has announced that Bilbao will host the next National Congress of Industry andSMEson 4 and 5 February. Today's meeting of the State Council of SMEsis the first since the renewal approved in 2024, with a view to opening up participation to new organisations to maximise diversity and have a more integrated view of the needs ofSMEs.

Industry | 6/27/2025

The Minister of Industry and Tourism visits the new multinational Teknia's electrification project in Cantabria.

The Teknia plant in the town of Ampuero is developing one of the company's most important projects, with a total investment of more than €6 million. For Jordi Hereu this project is a clear example of a company's firm commitment to innovation and leadership in the transition towards more sustainable mobility. The project will lead to an increase in industrial capacity and a 30% increase in turnover for this plant.

Tourism | 6/27/2025

Planned seats on international flights reach 13.1M in July, 4.9% higher than a year ago

Of the main outbound markets, Italy shows a higher intensity than the rest with an increase in seats of 6.7%. The fastest growing markets are Poland and Turkey, with projected growth of over 15% respectively.

Tourism | 6/26/2025

The State Secretary for Tourism announced the launch from today of the Destinations Intelligent Platform

The PID is a digital public infrastructure with solutions and services for the digital processing of the tourism ecosystem. Rosario Sánchez framed the announcement in the process of transformation in the north-east of Spain, now with an “ unprecedented ”public investment of more than 3.4 billion euros She stated that the 2030 Spain Tourism Strategy is in the final stages of development, after “a broad participatory process and consensus among the actors of the tourism industry ”

Industry | 6/26/2025

Hereu visits the facilities of the future headquarters of the multinational Desay, which has been awarded €5.5 M from PERTE VEC III

“Jaén is one of the Andalusian provinces with the longest traditions and the greatest industry weight. Some 15% of the employed population works in the industrial sector", stated Hereu. The Minister of Industry and Tourism recalled that, in addition to these major industrial policy efforts, there is now the need to strengthen defence and security systems, which in turn open up great industrial opportunities for Spain. The Desay plant is a state-of-the-art technology platform, which plans to manufacture up to 1.5 million display devices per year by 2028, and to generate around 300 direct, highly qualified, stable and sustainable jobs.

Tourism | 6/25/2025

Jordi Hereu presents Turespaña's first international tourism campaign focusing on inland Spain and sustainable tourism

The campaign is entitled 'Think You Know Spain? Think Again' and responds to the needs of a change in the tourism paradigm, with the three-fold economic, social and environmental sustainability at the heart of the new model For the minister Jordi Hereu, it is a milestone in the promotion of tourism in Spain abroad, a commitment to attract international tourists to our less visited destinations This is the first international Ministry of Industry and Tourism campaign carried out in collaboration with autonomous communities (a total of 12 in the first phase, which is being presented today) and has been filmed across more than 60 locations You can download the Turespaña campaign video at the following linkhttps// we.tl/t-3RBi1Ro69w

Tourism | 6/25/2025

Murcia's Moors and Christians festival has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest

This celebration, of a markedly historical, recreational and participatory nature, has been recognised as a sign of its deep-rooted cultural values The Secretary of State, Rosario Sánchez, highlights that this accolade "comes in a year of special symbolism for the city of Murcia, as it is celebrating 1,200 years since its founding" This is a historical re-enactment festival that commemorates the founding of the city in 825 together with the historical milestone of the handing over of the keys to the then Infante Alfonso of Castile

Tourism | 6/24/2025

The Secretary of State for Tourism suggests that the EU's Sustainable Tourism Strategy should be aligned with the transformation being carried out by the sector in Spain

Rosario Sánchez highlighted the need to boost competitiveness and tourism intelligence to make tourism a driver of social and territorial cohesion, during the informal meeting of tourism ministers in Warsaw Among Spain's priorities, she also pointed out the need to cut down on the environmental impacts of tourism as much as possible and to strengthen the social sustainability of tourism, fostering a balanced coexistence between tourists and residents The Secretary of State took advantage of the meeting within the framework of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to hold a meeting with the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas

Industry | 6/24/2025

Hereu announces the launch of the 2026-2030 Capital Goods Plan to boost innovation and industrial competitiveness

The plan will do its bit to improve the productivity and modernisation of Spanish industry, especially in relation to automation and the adoption of new digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The minister Hereu reminded us that today theBOEhas published the excerpt of the new call for proposals for grants to offset the costs of indirect emissions ofCO2with €600 million earmarked for the industrial sectors at risk of carbon leakage. According to data published by the Association of Capital Goods Manufacturers, the sector has a turnover of €70 billion in Spain and employs more than half a million people.

Industry | 6/20/2025

Hereu sees Catalonia as capable of leading the industrial renaissance of Spain and Europe

Jordi Hereu recalled the actions being carried out by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism to ensure Catalonia's economic growth. Thus, almost 630 million euros have been invested in Catalonia if we add up all the PERTE managed by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. He also recalled that his department has so far invested 340 million euros in 219 projects in tourism sustainability, digitisation, diversification or care and promotion of heritage.

Industry | 6/19/2025

Hereu announces provisional approval of 5 new PERTE decarbonisation projects worth €9.39 M.

With these new resolutions, lines 1 and 4 of the decarbonisation PERTEhave already provided more than €580 million in aid to more than 65 companies. During his speech, the minister highlighted the electric vehicle as a key element in the government's decarbonisation policy. It is a necessary solution to cut down on emissions.

Dana | 6/18/2025

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism and the ICO open a new line of zero interest financing amounting to €200 M for tourism companies affected by the flash floods

The Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez, and the President of ICO, Manuel Illueca, signed the agreement on Wednesday in Valencia that will regulate the Reinicia+ FOCIT DANA Mechanism The loans are available to businesses that have suffered damage to buildings, installations, equipment or stock. They may also be granted to companies looking to invest in the tourism sector in the affected regions

Tourism | 6/18/2025

International air passengers surpass 10.5 million in May, up 5.4% year-on-year

Between January and May, Spain received 41.3 million passengers, an increase of 6.9% compared to the same period in 2024 In terms of market diversification, the Persian Gulf countries, as well as China, South Korea and Turkey showed positive developments in May In terms of airports, the highest year-on-year increase was recorded in May at Valencia airport, with a 12.2% increase

Industry | 6/17/2025

Hereu announces the approval of the call for grants to offset indirect CO2 costs amounting to €600 M.

These grants are targeted at industrial sectors and sub-sectors exposed to a risk of “carbon leakage”. The Minister of Industry and Tourism recalled that this Government has earmarked nearly €2 billion since 2019 through the aid package aimed at the Spanish electro-intensive industry. This aid shows the government's commitment to the electro-intensive industrial sectors, making it possible to improve their competitiveness, strengthen their industrial capacities and boost employment.

Tourism | 6/17/2025

Tourism employment reaches almost 3 million in May with more than 100,000 new workers

Employment linked to tourism activities grew by 3.5% in the fifth month of the year compared with the same period in 2024. The number of salaried workers in the tourism sector increased by 4% in May, and the number of self-employed workers increased by 1.3%. Employment increased in May in all regions, including the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, and the region with the highest growth compared to the same month of the previous year was the Canary Islands (4.1%), followed by Andalusia (3.8%).

Tourism | 6/13/2025

Hereu claims that digital transformation is one of the keys to boosting competitiveness and innovation in tourism

Jordi Hereu closes a Segittur conference in Barcelona on the challenges of the digitalisation of SMEs and destinations In recent years, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism has fostered the digital transition of the sector with programmes such as the Last Mile programme, financed with Next Gen EU funds The Ministry is also working on creating the Smart Destination Platform, a project with which Spain strives to place itself at the forefront of tourism countries by using digitalisation to boost the tourism experience According to the 2nd Report on the Level of Digitalisation of Tourism SMEs, drawn up by the Secretary of State for Tourism in 2024, the level of digitalisation of tourism SMEs has risen by more than 16 points, with almost 50% of them having gone digital

Industry | 6/13/2025

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism launches the fourth call of the PERTE VEC amounting to €1.250 billion

In the first phase, €280 million is being earmarked for the A-section for batteries. The deadline for applications is 7 July 2025 at 10:00 and will end on 17 July 2025 at 14:00. This call is specifically designed to foster the creation of new industrial establishments, to expand production capacities in existing plants, and to reconvert production lines that manufacture innovative products that had not previously been produced.

Dana | 6/13/2025

Industry extends the Auto+ Restart Plan until 31 October for those affected by the flash flooding who lost their vehicles.

To date, 37,300 vehicles have already applied for support of up to €10,000.In terms of industrial policy, Rebeca Torró said that her department is already working on the post-Next Generation era to continue to respond to the main challenges facing Spanish industry and with a view to attracting more investment.The Secretary of State underlines the Spanish Government's "commitment" to improving industrial competitiveness, ‘demonstrated in measures such as the increase of up to €600 million in aid for the compensation of Co2 emission costs for large industries, which will considerably reduce their energy bills".

Tourism | 6/11/2025

Hereu backs the transformative power of the new forms of tourism at the closing ceremony of the launch of ‘Oleoturismo España’.

Minister Hereu highlights the efforts of the olive oil industry to offer sustainable tourism experiences that generate regional wealth while boosting rural and inland tourism alikeThe Ministry of Industry and Tourism has fostered olive oil as a tourist product with €8.6 million through a number of different initiatives within the framework of the Tourism Sustainability Plans and the Tourism Spain Experiences Programme‘ Oleuturismo Spain’ is a joint initiative fostered by nine regional councils - Jaén, Córdoba, Seville, Huelva, Granada, Cáceres, Badajoz, Ciudad Real and Tarragona - to build a national olive oil tourism proposal based on excellence, sustainability and the development of the olive-growing rural environment

Tourism | 6/11/2025

40th anniversary of the signing of the Accession Treaty of Spain to the European Economic Community

On 12 June 1985, Spain and Portugal signed the Accession Treaty to what was then the European Communities in two ceremonies held in Madrid and LisbonSince then, our country has experienced a great period of prosperity and progress

Industry | 6/10/2025

The call for entries for the 18th National Crafts Awards is now open

These awards highlight contemporary craftsmanship, with institutional recognition to foster innovation, design and the market adaptation of artisan companies Applications can be submitted until 7 July.

Industry | 6/9/2025

Hereu announced the award of €29 Mto 17 PERTE Chip projects

During his speech, the minister noted that, thanks to innovation, investment in clean technologies, internationalisation, and collaboration with technology centres and universities, Spain is able to drive this major transformation of the automotive industry

Industry | 6/9/2025

Hereu urges BSH to extend the deadline for potential buyers of the Esquíroz plant

The Minister of Industry, who has been asking for BSH to be more flexible with their deadline so that potential investors interested in the plant can evaluate a purchase operation, has been met with a refusal from the German multinationalToday is the fourth meeting that Minister Hereu has held with the aim of saving the company's production and preventing job lossesIn the search for alternatives, potential visitors have started paying visits to the facilities in Navarre

Tourism | 6/6/2025

Minister Hereu announces the expansion of the Parador de León, representing an investment of nearly EUR 30 million.

The expansion includes the construction of a new adjoining annex with 50 bedrooms, meeting rooms, fitness centre and outdoor swimming poolJordi Hereu took a tour of the historic parador, whose ensemble has undergone a restoration of its architectural heritage, financed through the Next Generation fundsThe Parador de León reopened its doors in 2020 after a comprehensive three-year EUR 15M renovationParadores, with 98 hotel facilities, completed 2024 with record occupancy of the last two decades, with an average of 74 percent per year and 1.5 million rooms occupied

Industry | 6/4/2025

Hereu highlights the importance of the dairy industry as an essential pillar of the Spanish economy

The Minister of Industry and Tourism emphasised the challenges facing the economy and the actions his department is taking to ensure its future. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism is supporting the sector in this transformation process through the Agrifood PERTE and the Industrial Decarbonisation PERTE.

Tourism | 6/4/2025

The State Secretariat for Tourism is organising a summer course in El Escorial on the transformation of Spain's tourism model

Under the title "Governing tourism: towards the Spain Tourism 2030 Strategy", it strives to contribute to the debate on the capacity of governments to foster social innovation in the face of a complex phenomenon such as tourismThe strategy developed by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism strives to make Spain a world leader in sustainable tourism, putting people at the heart thereofThe State Secretariat has launched a scholarship programme for students to cover the full cost of tuition, as well as accommodation, meals, and transportation

Industry | 6/2/2025

Hereu announces the extension of the subsidy programme for interest compensation on shipbuilding loans until the end of 2029

This is a very well-received programme in the shipbuilding industry, which contributed €41.14 million last year. For Hereu, it is a sign of the government's strong support for this industry by providing greater certainty and stability in the planning of new projects. 2024 was an exceptional year, with Spanish shipyards registering a total of 40 new contracts, worth over €1.5 billion.

Tourism | 6/2/2025

International tourist spending in Spain exceeds €34 billion in the first four months of the year, 9.3% more than in the same period in 2024

International tourist arrivals to Spain in the first four months of 2025 exceeded 25.6 million, 7.1% more than in the same period last year In April, 8.6 million international tourists visited us; a 10.1% year-on-year increase Each traveller spent an average of €1,264 in April, and the average daily expenditure reached €187, 0.9% more

Branch of industry and tourism | 5/30/2025

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism opens its new stand at the 84th Madrid Book Fair

This is an initiative fostered by the Undersecretary, Pablo Garde, to encourage and promote the Department's publications and to inform citizens about the work carried out in the field of Industry and Tourism in Spain. During the two weeks of the fair, the ministry's stand will be selling  more than 25 publications that can be purchased with a 10% discount

Tourism | 5/30/2025

Hereu calls for strengthening the role of UN Tourism as a benchmark body leading the transformation of the sector

The 123rd Executive UN Tourism Council will be held on 29 and 30 May at the Royal Site of San Ildefonso, in La Granja (Segovia), and will mainly focus on electing a new Secretary-General candidate to replace Zurab PololikashviliThe Minister of Industry and Tourism hopes that the new candidate to lead the organisation will foster the values ??associated with three-fold sustainability and tourism as a driver of wealth creation, prosperity, and global cohesionUN Tourism (formerly the World Tourism Organisation) is the only United Nations agency whose permanent headquarters are in Spain and this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary

Tourism | 5/29/2025

Planned seats on international flights reached 12.2 million in June, 4.7% more than last year

Of the main source markets, Italy has a higher intensity than the rest with a 9.3% increase in seats The fastest growing markets are Poland and Turkey which show a growth projection of over 15% respectively

Tourism | 5/28/2025

Spain hosts the 123rd meeting of the UN Tourism Executive Council, which will appoint the new Secretary-General candidate

Spain, as host country and permanent member of the Executive Council, will be represented at the highest level by the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, and the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez In La Granja, Jordi Hereu will defend Spain's commitment to continue fostering the sustainability of tourism in its three-fold social, economic and environmental aspects, and the role of UN tourism in continuing to foster the modernisation of the sector at an international level, as a source of wealth generation and social prosperity UN Tourism (formerly the World Tourism OrganiSation) is the only United Nations agency whose permanent headquarters are in Spain and this year it is celebrating its 50th anniversary

Industry | 5/27/2025

Industry awards €41 M from the PERTE VEC III in its value chain section to 21 companies

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has also awarded €3.5 million from PERTE AGRO II to seven projects.Rebeca Torró highlighted the Government of Spain's action to "continue advancing in industrial competitiveness". The Ministry of Industry and Tourism will launch the call for €600 M in aid to offset CO2 emissions before the end of the first half of this year.

Tourism | 5/26/2025

Jordi Hereu underlines the government's commitment to the social sustainability of tourism and calls for keeping ahead of challenges

Hereu stressed the importance for all stakeholders, including small hotels and tourist establishments, to take strides in terms of digitalisation to become more competitive Jordi Hereu recalls the great moment for the tourism industry as a whole and underlines the importance of keeping ahead of challenges in order to strategically transform them into a great opportunity to strengthen the competitiveness of the industry

Tourism | 5/23/2025

The Templar Tribute to James I and William of Mont-Rodon, in Monzón, has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest

It is the ninth festival to receive this recognition in the autonomous community of AragónThe historical recreation commemorates the arrival and stay in Monzón, as a child, of King James I the Conqueror and his guardianship by the Order of the Temple between 1214 and 1217This year's edition is being held from today, Friday, until Sunday

Industry | 5/22/2025

Spain considers it necessary to specify community instruments to continue fostering industrial competitiveness.

Minister Jordi Hereu reiterates Spain's commitment to climate change goals and renewable and clean energy, and calls for EU instruments that support investments to advance the energy transition in industry and clean technologies.The Government of Spain believes it is a priority to guarantee the energy supply and demands that the goal of interconnection between the Peninsula and the rest of Europe via France be met.

Tourism | 5/19/2025

International air passengers reached 9.7 million in April, representing a 9.5% year-on-year increase

Between January and April, Spain received 30.8 million passengers, an increase of 7.4% compared to the same period in 2024In terms of market diversification, the Persian Gulf countries, China, Canada and the main Latin American countries are showing positive developments this April

Tourism | 5/16/2025

Jordi Hereu chairs Spain Day at the Osaka Expo with a call to strengthen ties between Spain and Japan

More than half a million people have already visited the Spanish Pavilion at the Expo Hereu highlighted the increase in the number of Japanese tourists visiting Spain, attracted by its culture, heritage, gastronomy, and lifestyle. At the same time, more and more Spaniards, fascinated by Japanese culture, are visiting Japan.

Tourism | 5/16/2025

Tourism employment exceeds 2.9 million in April, with nearly 100,000 new workers

Employment linked to tourism activities grew by 3.5% in April compared to the same period in 2024The number of salaried workers in the tourism sector increased by 4% in April, and the number of self-employed workers increased by 1.1%Employment increased in April in all communities except the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, and the community that grew the most compared to the same month last year was the Balearic Islands (5%), followed by Cantabria (3.9%)

Tourism | 5/15/2025

The Minister Jordi Hereu meets with Japanese airlines JAL and ANA to discuss the expansion of direct flight connections with Spain

The Minister of Industry and Tourism also held a meeting with the Japanese Minister of Territory, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, to continue fostering economic relations and tourism between the two countries The Spanish tourist office in Tokyo (Turespaña) celebrated its 50th anniversary in Japan in May of this year

Tourism | 5/13/2025

Jordi Hereu inaugurates the Parador de Molina de Aragón, which consolidates the commitment to sustainable tourism and local development

The Parador, which is the 98th in the national network, is a new building with 24 rooms, gastronomic spaces, event rooms and a wellness areaThe investment has exceeded €22 million and its opening will significantly boost this Castilla-La Mancha region, creating around 35 direct jobsThe inauguration was attended by the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, and the president of Paradores, Raquel Sánchez

Industry | 5/13/2025

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism provisionally approves 3 new projects under line 1 of the PERTE decarbonisation programme worth €10 M.

The projects approved are those of Biocarburantes de Castilla y León (Salamanca) who was awarded €7.5 million euros; Aceites Coosur (Jaén), awarded €1.7 million; and Siero Lam (Asturias), awarded €726,000. Including those announced today, the Industry has already granted aid – including grants and loans – worth more than €471 million to 95 PERTE decarbonisation projects.

The Ministry | 5/12/2025

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism opens its doors to citizens during Open Government Week 2025

Among the activities lined up over the coming days are an exhibition of tourist posters, visits to a number of different centres belonging to the Ministry, and visits to the archives The events are part of an initiative fostered by the Open Government Partnership (Open Gov Week) The goal is to bring the administration closer to the citizen, based around five principles:: transparency, accountability, citizen participation, public integrity and collaboration

Industry | 5/9/2025

Hereu announces the specific call for the battery section of the PERTE VEC IV, amount to a total of €280 M.

The Minister of Industry and Tourism announces that the battery section of the VEC IV, whose rules are published today in the BOE, will be launched next month and urges the sector to apply for funding. The government is fostering the electric vehicle charging network, which now has more than 40,000 public charging points in operation, a 33% increase over last year, making us the sixth country in Europe in terms of recharging infrastructure..

Tourism | 5/9/2025

The tourism industry kicked off the year employing 2.7 million, 1.2% more than in the first quarter of 2024.

In the first quarter of 2025 there were 34,347 more employees in tourism activities than in the same quarter of 2024 despite the fact that this year Easter fell outside this periodEmployees in the tourism sector with permanent contracts increased by 2.7%, the fifteenth consecutive riseThe seasonality rate in the tourism industry remained at 14.7%, lower than the seasonality rate for the national economy as a whole, which was 15.1% In this first quarter, the number of people employed in the tourism sector increased in nine autonomous communities

Industry | 5/8/2025

Hereu announces the launch of the PERTE VEC IV amounting to €1.25 billion

Tomorrow, Friday, the rules governing this new call, which will be managed by SEPIDES, will be published in the BOE, and in a few weeks the call for the battery section of PERTE VEC IV will be launched, followed by the call for the value chain. The PERTE VEC IV will foster the creation of new industrial establishments throughout the country, the expansion of production capacities in existing plants, and the reconversion of lines to manufacture innovative products that had not previously been produced. The Minister of Industry and Tourism calls on the sector to submit its projects to PERTE: ‘We want to use up all the funds and continue to foster the industrial transformation of the country’.

Dana | 5/6/2025

The Government approves the conditions of the €200 million REINICIA+ FOCIT funding mechanism for tourist establishments affected by the flash flooding

This line of financing strives to grant loans to commercial companies that are owners of tourist establishments in the affected municipalities, that have suffered damage of any kind to the buildings, installations, equipment or stock used for their activity.The application for financing will be made through the app on the ICO website. The deadline for submitting applications is 31 December 2025.

Tourism | 5/6/2025

The government authorized the contract for the drafting, construction and operation of the Palacio de Congresos in Madrid for an amount of €1.279 billion

The Institute of Tourism of Spain, Turespaña, in the exercise of their competences and institutional purposes fosters the reopening to the public of the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Madrid after its closure in 2012.The Council of Ministers has approved the emergency contracting of works to stabilise and protect unstable areas on the ‘ladera de la horca’, adjacent to the west with Parador de Turismo de La Gomera, for an amount of €423,000.

Industry | 5/5/2025

The ministry of industry and tourism awards €53 M to 37 new PERTE Chip projects

The beneficiaries belong to 11 autonomous communities. The PERTE Chip strives to strengthen the design and production capacities of the microelectronics and semiconductor industry in Spain from an integral perspective and to favour national and EU strategic autonomy in this sector.

Tourism | 5/5/2025

International tourists spend €23.5 billion in Spain in the first quarter of 2025, 7.2% more than a year ago

International tourist arrivals in the first three months of 2025 reached 17.1 million, 5.7% more than in the same period last yearIn March, 6.6 million foreign tourists arrived in Spain, an increase of 3.8% year-on-year. Of particular note is the growth of Italian visitors, which increased by 27.7%, as well as how much they spent, which increased by 25%Each visitor spent an average of €1,382 in March, and the average spend per day was €188, up 4.5%

Tourism | 4/29/2025

P Forecasted seats on international flights reach 12 million in May, 6.3% more than a year ago

Of the main outbound markets, Italy underwent the largest increase, with 10.1% more seats forecasted.Ireland, Turkey and the Czech Republic accelerated. The United States regained momentum, with an expected 5.5% increase

Industry | 4/25/2025

Hereu defends an innovative shipbuilding industry as a fundamental pillar of European reindustrialisation

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has defended steel in Europe, a strategic product, and one that this Government will always defend throughout the entire cycle in Asturias and Spain.Gondán It is an example of modernity and commitment to the digital revolution and new technologies, said the minister, who called for fair international trade that benefits all economies.

The Ministry | 4/25/2025

The Ministry celebrates World Intellectual and Industrial Property Day

The Government has approved an institutional declaration reiterating its commitment to defending, protecting and fostering intellectual and industrial property rights

Industry | 4/24/2025

Jordi Hereu meets the president of SEAT S.A., Markus Haupt, to analyse the company's projects in Spain

From 2021, SEAT S.A. and the Volkswagen group have received aid €270 million in loans and grants from the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. Hereu highly valued the company and group's electrification strategy in Spain, with investments in the Sagunto battery gigafactory and the electrification of its plants in Martorell and Navarre.

Industry | 4/23/2025

Hereu announces the provisional adoption of five new projects under the 4th facility of the PERTE Decarbonisation Plan amounting to € 90M

The beneficiary companies are HYDUM PUERTOLLANO, ALIER, CIMSA CEMENTOS ESPAÑA and BIOTERMICA VILLANUEVA. With these tenders, the Industrial Decarbonisation PERTE (strategic projects for economic recovery and transformation) has now awarded, in its different facilities, nearly 570 million euros to a total of 93 projects all across Spain. With regard to the PERTE-VEC (electric and connected vehicles), the Ministry of Industry and Tourism has awarded nearly 2.5 billion euros to 300 companies through the three calls it has launched. The fourth grant package, endowed with 1.25 billion euros will soon be convened.

Industry | 4/22/2025

Hereu gets fully behind “maximizing” the return on investment of the Industrial Plan for Strengthening Security and Defence

Jordi Hereu hailed the Industrial and Technological Plan for Strengthening Security and Defence as an “enormous industrial opportunity”. The minister of Industry and Tourism also underscored the great value of European funds in the re-industrialisation and the industrial transformation of Spain

Tourism | 4/21/2025

Air passengers from abroad amounted to 8 million in March; an increase of 5.7% year on year

Between January and March, Spain received 21.1 million passengers, an increase of 6.4% over the same period in 2024Among the major markets, Italy stands out for another month for its remarkable growth rates,19 per cent in MarchIn the diversification of markets, the Persian Gulf countries, China, Canada and the main Ibero-American countries saw positive development this March

Tourism | 4/15/2025

Jordi Hereu presents the Tourism Situation Report reflecting the change of model towards three-fold sustainability

Tourism in the first months of 2025 has been outstanding, improving on the historic 2024 figuresThis year's Easter Week is once again expected to be historic in terms of spending at the destination and the number of international touristsThe Minister of Industry and Tourism stressed that the public policies of recent years are helping to transform an already successful model into a modern, prosperous industry that generates wealth for allHereu explained how from 2018 to 2024 the statistical patterns have shown the progress of tourism in inland and northern communities during the mid and low seasons

Tourism | 4/15/2025

The tourist employment rose by almost 25,000 in a March with no Holy Week

Despite Easter falling in April this year, in March tourism employment grew by almost 1%The number of salaried workers in the tourism sector increased by 1% in March and the number of self-employed by 0.3%E Employment rose in March in the Community of Madrid, the Canary Islands, the Basque Country, Ceuta and Melilla, and Navarre; in relative terms, the highest growth was in the Canary Islands

Industry | 4/14/2025

Open to public information the decree for the implementation of the regulations of key raw materials and industries Net Zero Emissions

This rule is necessary for the effective implementation in Spain of two community regulations of great importance for industry and strategic autonomy.The deadline for filing claims is 7 days, until 22 april.

Dana | 4/11/2025

Industry has already paid €45 M to 10,000 applicants for aid under the Reinicia Auto+ Plan.

In the three months of the scheme, more than 29,000 applications have been submitted.Of the total number of vehicles purchased through this plan, 4,215 are electric and plug-in hybrids, 11,841 are non-plug-in hybrids, and almost 14,000 are combustion vehicles.A specific €650 million FAIIP line has also been launched to restore industrial activity or attract new ones to the affected areas. So far, 7 applications have been submitted amounting to a total of €7 million.

Industry | 4/10/2025

Industry reiterates its commitment to defending intellectual and industrial property rights and the fight against counterfeiting

The Undersecretary of Industry and Tourism, Pablo Garde, today closes the General Assembly of ANDEMA: “You enrich our public service work with a view to fostering economic development, innovation and competitiveness”Spain has registered the highest growth in European patent applications at the European Patent Office (EPO) in the last decade

Industry | 4/10/2025

Hereu announces the call for €11 million to offset energy bill charges to energy-intensive companies

This aid is key for the industrial sector because it improves its competitiveness while strengthening its industrial capacities and employment at a time when Spain needs to be reindustrialised. Jordi Hereu highlighted the defence and security industry as a key sector for national security and to reindustrialise Spain.

Tourism | 4/9/2025

Hereu anticipates a historic Easter Week for tourism: spending by international tourists will set a new record.

Forecasts indicate that in March and April 2025, tourist spending will exceed €20 billion, nearly 13% more than in the same period in 2024In terms of international tourist arrivals, Spain will receive around 15 million tourists, 9% more than last yearHereu COMMENDED the strength and resilience of Spanish tourism despite the uncertain international situation and expressed the Government's willingness to continue supporting a strategic sector that the entire country benefits fromThe Minister visits the renovated Parador de Sigüenza, which will reopen on 9 May after remodelling and improvement works to the tune of more than €10 million

Tourism | 4/7/2025

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has invested more than €288 M to improve tourism infrastructures in the Balearic Islands and boost the sustainability of the model.

The Minister Jordi Hereu recalls that the government of Spain had never made such a big and diversified tourist investment in the Balearic Islands: 70 projects between the four islands Hereu stresses that all these investments in tourism come from NextGen funds, launched by the central government in the wake of the pandemic On his trip to Mallorca, the Minister of Industry and Tourism met with trade unions and representatives of the Balearic tourism business network and visited Magaluf (in Calvià)

Tourism | 4/4/2025

The Secretary of State for Tourism announces the 26th edition of the Host Awards

This year, the Hosts Programme incorporates a new technological platform aimed at tourism training and talent In recent years, Hosts has made a name for itself as a key initiative to boost the quality of the tourism sector Anyone interested in participating can do so by registering onweb Since the launch of the online version in 2011, this programme has attracted more than 15,300 people, with 77,000 registrations and 33,000 SETUR-issued certificates

Industry | 4/3/2025

Jordi Hereu stresses the importance of certification companies in strengthening the ‘culture of industrial quality’

The Minister of Industry and Tourism sees conformity assessment bodies as a strategic sector and play a very important role in the PERTEs.Hereu calls for confronting global trade uncertainties by strengthening European values and respect for international law

The Ministry | 4/2/2025

The Undersecretary for Industry and Tourism defends the Government's strategy to boost industry in Spain

As part of this strategy, the Undersecretary has called for a new law on Industry and Strategic Autonomy that will enable the new technological challenges and the objectives of reindustrialisation, transformation and decarbonisation to be met effectively.

Tourism | 4/2/2025

Total spending by international tourists exceeds €14.3 billion up to February, an 8.3% increase

International tourist arrivals in the first two months of 2025 reached 10.4 million, 6.9% more than in the same period last year In terms of arrivals, the number of international tourists from the United States grew by a considerable 11.6% in February. Also worth mentioning is the 31% increase in spending at the destination by French tourists, compared to 2024 In February, the region that saw the highest growth among the main regions was the Community of Valencia, with an increase of 15.2% compared to a year ago. In second place is the Balearic Islands, with 11% more tourists than in February 2024 In February, each visitor spent an average of €1,345, and the average spend per day was €183, up 5.5%

Industry | 3/28/2025

Hereu announces provisional approval of 31 new projects in line B of the PERTE VEC III worth €215.9 M.

Among the subsidies, the following are worth mentioning: Stellantis Zaragoza, with more than €80 million; Powerco in Sagunto, with close to €20 million; and Ebro, with €25 million. Of particular note is the support to Iveco Madrid, with €12 million, the first project for heavy goods vehicles to receive aid. During his speech, Minister Hereu said that his department has already paid out more than €5.742 billion from the European funds it manages.

Tourism | 3/28/2025

Planned seats on international flights reach 11.1 M in April, 7.3% more than a year ago.

Yet again, with good projections, the main source markets: United Kingdom (+7.6%), Germany (+7.2%), Italy (+7.0%). France, on the other hand, experienced a more subdued increase (+2.0%). Worth mentioning is the acceleration in Ireland, Poland and Turkey with projected growth of more than 15% respectively

Industry | 3/27/2025

Hereu announced the provisional adoption of 11 new projects of line 1 of the decarbonisation PERTE amounting to €28.6 M

Among the projects approved are the three García Carrión projects for a total of €8.48 million, Papelera de la Alquería, which was awarded €4.7 million, and Industrias Lácteas de Granada, awarded €4.3 million. The projects announced today will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 175,600 tonnes per year. The paper sector has received €41.5 million from the Decarbonisation PERTE. Furthermore, it has benefited from other industrial policy lines, which have supported 659 companies with a total of €305 million in grants and €55 million in loans.

Tourism | 3/25/2025

Turespaña launches the international ‘Valencia: love it like us' campaign

A campaign centred around people and local recommendations that ooze the Mediterranean character and warmth of Valencia's people Turespaña under the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, will amplify this campaign through social networks in Europe and North America in March and April

Dana | 3/25/2025

Industry has already paid out €25.2 million to more than five thousand applicants for aid under the Auto+ Reinicia Plan

In the two months of the plan, more than 25,000 applications have been submitted, of which more than 9,000 have been granted, with an allocated budget of more than €130 million. By vehicle type, more than 3,600 are electric and plug-in hybrids, more than 10,000 are non-plug-in hybrids and more than 12,000 are combustion vehicles.

Tourism | 3/25/2025

A total of 46 tourist destinations have received €94 million to be trailblazers in the Smart Destination Platform

The Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez, launched in Benidorm the meeting of the beneficiaries of this funding to develop technological solutions

Industry | 3/14/2025

Hereu defends before Séjourné the objective of making Spain the industrial engine of southern Europe

The Minister of Industry and Tourism assures that Spain and Europe need more investment and innovation, and calls for the continuity of European funds beyond 2026 to continue developing industrial transformation policies. Séjourné and Hereu got a first-hand look at decarbonization projects such as those being carried out by Repsol, Celsa, Enerkem and Enagás. Between final and provisional resolutions, the Ministry of Industry has already granted aid, including subsidies and loans, amounting to more than €450 million to 75 PERTE decarbonisation projects.

Tourism | 3/14/2025

The harvest festival of Carinyena (Zaragoza) has been named Fiesta of International Tourist Interest of Spain

This is the eleventh festival to be acknowledged as such in the autonomous community of Aragón It recognises this event for combining the winemaking tradition and the end-of-harvest celebration with fostering local tourism. It has gone on to become one of the most important events in the Aragonese festival calendar

Branch of industry and tourism | 3/14/2025

The Undersecretary of Industry and Tourism presents the book Industry and Territory: travel, infrastructures, products and exchanges in Modern Spain at the National Library

This book, published by the Ministry's Publications Department, provides a historical analysis of the pre-industrial economy, with a focus on the infrastructures and means of transportation necessary for industrial development in the Modern Age The authors, all of them renowned professionals of great academic prestige, bring us closer to this past by offering us different perspectives of Modern Spain, which started to emerge in the XIV and XV centuries, paving the way for the commercial and industrial production model as we know it today

Industry | 3/13/2025

Hereu commits to the reuse, recycling and circularity of waste to generate a strategy for economic growth

According to the minister, talking about waste means talking about innovation, efficiency and an economic model that moves away from the culture of waste.

Industry | 3/13/2025

Hereu meets with the heads of Chery and Ebro to follow up on the progress of the Zona Franca plant

During the meeting, the evolution of the plant's activity in Barcelona and future plans of this alliance were discussed, as well as possible future investment projects Last November saw production of the first vehicles at this factory get underway. The Spanish automotive brand launched its industrial alliance with Chery in the capital of Catalonia with the first unit of the S700 SUV The Minister recalled that the fourth PERTE VEC call for proposals will be launched next April, with €1.250 billion, and invited Chery to put forward new investment projects

Industry | 3/12/2025

Spain proposes to ensure an industrial pillar in the new European competitiveness fund

It strives to establish a mechanism to foster and improve the competitiveness of our industrial sectors, and to respond to the major challenges of recent years: decarbonisation and the digitalisation of industrial companies. The minister called for an instrument that would guarantee European strategic autonomy by creating a reserve based on the industrial capabilities of the States. The Spanish delegation called for progress on setting out an industrial roadmap and implementing the Clean Industry Deal. On arrival, Hereu assessed the European Commission's decision to impose tariffs on American products. The minister believes Europe must react, but it must do so while being open to dialogue. ‘We are not in favour of a trade war between blocs, but we must defend the sectors affected’. He argued for strategic autonomy in defence as an opportunity to boost innovation and technology within a broad concept that includes defence and security

Industry | 3/6/2025

Jordi Hereu receives the ambassador of South Korea with a view to further strengthening cooperation between the two countries

During the meeting, Korean investments in Spain were analysed, such as Hyundai Mobis in Navarra to set up a new battery production plant, or Lotte Energy in Tarragona to manufacture electric battery components.

Industry | 3/5/2025

Hereu announces that the fourth PERTE VEC call for €1.25 billion will be launched in April

According to the Minister of Industry, the PERTE VEC is proving to be a key tool for the transformation of the automotive sector. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has already earmarked more than €5 billion for the sector in the different calls for proposals. Pending its official presentation by the European Commission, the Minister of Industry and Tourism has welcomed the launch of the Automotive Industry Action Plan 

Industry | 3/5/2025

CCOO de Industria and UGT FICA support the agreement to give continuity to the Alcoa plant in San Ciprián, Lugo Support for Galician industry

The MoU signed last January by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, the Xunta de Galicia, Alcoa and IGNIS, reflects the parties' interest in collaborating with the plant's workers to resume activity, giving priority to the reactivation of the aluminium facilities.

Industry | 3/4/2025

The Government approves new fire safety regulations for industrial establishments

Among the basic safety requirements in the event of fire, the regulation sts forth that establishment designs must minimise the possibility of propagation outside and inside alike and that adequate occupant evacuation means are available, as well as having the necessary detection, control, extinguishing and alarm installations. Operators of industrial establishments must have their installations periodically inspected by an inspection body authorised to carry out such inspections at least every 5 years.

Tourism | 3/4/2025

Spain stands out at the ITB Tourism Expo in Berlin as a preferred destination for German tourists, which in 2024 grew by 8.6%.

Germany is the third largest tourist source market and the second largest in terms of expenditure. In 2024, 11.9 million German tourists visited our country, 8.6% more than in 2023; these tourists spent 17.5% more, up to €15.527 billion. In January, the German market continued to grow in terms of expenditure, by 6% compared to January 2024. By region, the Canary Islands received the most German tourists in January, with 228,323, followed by the Balearic Islands (72,260) and Andalusia (65,241), the region that underwent the highest growth in the number of German tourists. Jordi Hereu visited the tourism fair and highlighted Spain's strength in tourism and its prominent position in Europe as one of the leading and most advanced destinations in areas such as sustainability and the digitisation of tourism. The ITB Tourism Expo is one of the most important events in the tourism sector, along with Fitur and the World Travel Market in London. This year, Spain has approximately 300 exhibitors, including hotels, chains, agencies and other companies in the sector.

Tourism | 3/4/2025

Total spending by international tourists exceeded €7.1 billion in January, 8.9% more than in the first month of 2024

International tourist arrivals in January exceeded 5.1 million, 6.1% higher than in the same month in 2024 In terms of arrivals in January, the number of international tourists in the “rest of the world” chapter (everywhere outside Europe, the United States and the rest of America), grew by a significant 25.8% In January, the region with the highest growth among the main regions, was the Community of Madrid, with an increase of 15.7% compared to a year ago. In second place was Catalonia, with 12.4% more tourists than in January 2024 In January, each visitor spent an average of €1,408, 2.7% more than last year, and the average expenditure per day also reflects this growth, reaching €165

Industry | 2/27/2025

Hereu advocates competitive energy prices, more effective trade control instruments, and new lines of financing to ensure the viability of the European steel sector.

The Government of Spain deems it to be of utmost importance to foster the purchase of green steel throughout the EU, through public procurement, so that there are obligations to use it in infrastructures and public works. Jordi Hereu has highlighted the value of the initiatives launched by his department, such as the PERTE for Industrial Decarbonisation. The steel sector is strategic in terms of its contribution to GDP and employment and in terms of strategic autonomy alike.

Tourism | 2/27/2025

Planned international seats for February reach 9.5M, 10.8% more than a year ago.

Notable increases in the main markets: UK (10.8% more seats), Germany (8.6% more), Italy (18.8% more) and France (8.2% increase) Growth in Belgium and Poland stands out, with both markets projected to grow by more than 15% In distant markets, the United States remains stable (0.2%) for March and Colombia is expected to grow by 13.8%

Industry | 2/21/2025

Jordi Hereu visits Ercros, whose decarbonisation projects have been awarded €14.6 M

The decarbonisation projects for which aid is granted will enable a 56% reduction in emissions at the company's Tarragona industrial complex, with savings of more than 40,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. According to Jordi Hereu, the Government's commitment is to move towards a more industrial, more competitive and, at the same time, more sustainable and climate-responsible Spain. Catalan companies have so far been awarded a total of €51.6 million from the Decarbonisation PERTE.

Industry | 2/20/2025

Hereu announced the closure of the PERTE VEC II with 29 new projects earmarked for the line B amounting to €72 M

This line strives to foster investment plans for the industrial value chain of the electric and connected vehicle, its systems, subsystems and components, as well as certain auxiliary infrastructure systems necessary for its deployment. In total, the second call of the PERTE VEC, both in the battery and value chain lines, has awarded €1.155 billion to a total of 143 projects, including those approved in this last round. The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to the extension of the Moves Plan, which will take effect retroactively from 1 January this year. And he recalled that 17,000 applications have already been received for aid to purchase vehicles under the Reinicia Auto+ Plan.

Tourism | 2/20/2025

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has already invested more than €225 M in the digitalisation of tourism destinations and companies.

Jordi Hereu highlighted that the tourism industry is at the forefront of digital transformation, which will make Spain a more competitive, sustainable and higher quality destination The Minister of Industry and Tourism recalled that the Government has deployed a real tourism strategy, supported by the €3.4 billion NextGen funds and the Recovery Plan The minister gave a positive assessment of the forecasts for the industry in the first four months of this year - around €36 billion euros in tourist spending, 16% more than in the same period in 2024 - but once again reminded us that we must not become obsessed with figures nor should we take too much from records

Tourism | 2/18/2025

International air passengers reached 6.4 million in January, up 7.4% year-on-year

2025 got off to a good start with an increase in international passenger arrivals in all major markets, continuing the upward trend of recent yearsIn market diversification (other countries), Ibero-American countries, Canada, China and Persian Gulf countries continue to perform well.The US saw a significant increase compared to January 2024 data among the main European markets, Italy was the country with the highest increase (13%), surpassing Germany

Industry | 2/17/2025

The Undersecretary of Industry and Tourism presents the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office

The Plan sets out the Office's roadmap for the period 2025-2027 and strengthens its commitment to strategic planning, quality and excellence in public service.This Plan is designed to enable the SPTO to fulfil its mission of fostering economic development, innovation and competitiveness by fostering knowledge and use of Industrial Property.

Tourism | 2/17/2025

Employment related to tourism grew by 4.1% in January, to 2.62 million workers

Tourism sector affiliates increased year-on-year by 104,437 registered workers. In January, the number of employees in the tourism sector increased by 4.9% and the number of self-employed by 1.2% The largest increase in January was in Andalusia, in absolute numbers and relative values alike.

Tourism | 2/14/2025

Jordi Hereu visits Manresa to learn about the actions undertaken within the framework of the Camino Ignaciano Rehabilitation Project, endowed with €2.7 million

Improvements have been made in different spaces and architectural elements of the city, relating to the Camino Ignaciano.

Dana | 2/11/2025

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism earmarked €7 million in NextGen funding for tourism projects in regions affected by the flash floods

The funds will go towards climate change adaptation projects, the adoption of early warning systems, the adaptation of watercourses, and the implementation of flood prevention measures, among other actions As a result, some of the actions initially foreseen with European funds in tourist destinations in the Autonomous Community of Valencia will be adapted and adjusted

Tourism | 2/11/2025

Sustainable tourism, a strategy for the future

Sustainable tourism has become the overarching strategy for developing the tourism sector worldwide. It strives to balance the economic, social and environmental benefits of tourism to minimise its negative impact on the destinations, distribute the benefits and contribute to a more sustainable future of the sector. Spain, as a benchmark in global tourism, has assumed the challenge of fostering growth in sustained and sustainable tourism.

Tourism | 2/7/2025

The Ministry extended by up to one year the deadline for energy efficiency projects and circularity in tourism enterprises

These actions, worth €119.6 million, are financed with aid from the Ministry of Industry and Tourism through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan Projects will be launched in 3,400 establishments in the tourism sector to develop actions that boost their competitiveness and allow them to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs The formula for distributing these funds by territories was agreed at the Tourism Sector Conference in December 2023

Tourism | 2/7/2025

The tourism sector closes the year with 2.9 million employees, 9.7% more than in 2023

In the fourth quarter of 2024 there are 259,992 more employees in tourism activities than in the same quarter in 2023 The number of employees in the tourism sector with permanent contracts increased by 13.4%, the fourteenth consecutive increase The seasonality rate in the tourism sector was 14.5%, significantly lower than that of the third quarter of 2023, which was 16.5%. The Autonomous Communities of Valencia, Madrid and Catalonia were the communities with the largest growth in the number of people employed.

Industry | 2/6/2025

Industry is meeting with the association of operators of Ultra-High-Speed Recharge (AORU) to promote the deployment of the sector in Spain

The meeting was part of the government's policy of turning Spain as a hub of mobility in europe and this is working with manufacturers and installers of points in new investment and aid via the PERTE VEC, along with incentives to the purchase of electric vehicles.

Industry | 2/5/2025

The Ministry of Industry awarded €40.6 M to seven PERTE Chip projects

With this PERTE, whose second call has earmarked €200 million in two aspects, the government strives to strengthen the design and production capacities of the microelectronics and semiconductor industry in Spain from a holistic perspective. The Autonomous Community of Valencia, with its companies VLC Photonics and Ipronics, is the autonomous community to have received the most support.

Industry | 2/4/2025

The secretary of state for industry upholds to create a european fund for the competitiveness and industrial resilience

The secretary of state for industry, Rebeca Torró, advocates greater coordination in order to facilitate and improve the competitive situation intensive industries in energy consumption and automotive sectors. For Spain all community policies have to ensure that companies to compete on equal terms in a scenario of intense globalization and respond to the major challenges of recent years the energy and climate.

Tourism | 2/3/2025

Tourism expenditure meets forecasts and exceeds €126 billion in 2024, a 16.1% increase

International tourist arrivals in 2024 are expected to reach 93.8 million, 10.1% more than in 2023. The United Kingdomaccounts for the most visitors, with 18.4 million, followed by France with 12.9 million tourists and Germany with 11.9 million. Travellers from Asia will lead growth in 2024, with an increase of 14.2% compared to 2023   Tourist expenditure in December was €7.589 billion, 7.03% more than in the same month in 2023, and arrivals grew by 1.1% to over 5.3 million In December, each visitor spent an average of €1,441, 5.88% more than in 2023, and the expenditure per day and traveller also saw an increase of 6.4%, reaching €159

Industry | 1/30/2025

The Ministry of Industry and UNE present the new Construction Products Regulation

European technical standards will play a key role in rolling out the new Regulation, making it easier for companies to comply with it, according to the conference organised by the Spanish Association for Standardisation (UNE) and the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. The new Construction Products Regulation strengthens the criteria for a sustainable, digital and innovative construction industry. In attendance were experts from the European Commission, the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA), the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, the Spanish Confederation of Associations of Construction Products Manufacturers (CEPCO) and UNE.

Industry | 1/30/2025

Industry approves three new PERTE VEC III projects in the battery line with nearly €50 M

Lithium Iberia, Iberpotash and Industrias Químicas del Óxido de Etileno are the recipient companies. The Reinicia Auto+ Plan has already reached the 9,000 support requests for the purchase of vehicles for those affected by the flash floods. In his speech, the minister highlighted the effectiveness of the PERTE in its different areas and the good momentum of the tourism sector, which is moving towards deseasonalisation and diversification.

Tourism | 1/30/2025

The seats provided for in international flights to reach the february 7.9 M, 9.1 per cent more than a year ago

The main broadcasting markets experienced increases less intense than that seen in january, United Kingdom (7.4 per cent more seats), germany (7.5 per cent more), italy (17.7 per cent more) and france (10.1 per cent increase).Stresses the acceleration of the czech republic, with a projection of growth of 15 per cent, and of belgium to 13.1 per cent increase.

Tourism | 1/28/2025

Easter Week in Badajoz has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest

This is the fifth festival to receive this recognition in the autonomous community of Extremadura

Industry | 1/27/2025

Industry strengthens its commitment to electric and connected mobility

The Minister of Industry and the regional presidents of Catalonia, Valencia and Navarre, as well as the President of SEAT, have signed a joint declaration to develop new instruments to foster the purchase of electric cars, and to give greater impetus to the charging infrastructure in our country.

Tourism | 1/24/2025

Hereu highlights Spain's role as a benchmark in sustainability policies at FITUR 2025 and strengthens ties with emerging tourism countries and markets

The Minister of Industry and Tourism recalls that Spain is a model of modernisation and tourism quality, which is making an increasing number of countries want to know the secret of our success Hereu sees FITUR as a reflection of the excellent time for tourism worldwide and in Spain alike, with 2024 ending with record spending at the destination, €126 billion, and a historic high of million international tourists Minister Hereu took part in events on the quality of tourism employment, the rise of rural tourism, the future of tourism and historical heritage for tourism use, visited the stands of the autonomous communities and accompanied the King and Queen of Spain at the inauguration and the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, during the closing ceremony Minister Hereu and the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez Grau, held an intense agenda of meetings with various delegations from countries attending FITUR Pedro Sánchez has announced that Turespaña will this year commemorate its 40th anniversary with a big event in Valencia, as a show of support to the tourism sector in the wake of the flash floods, and Hereu announced a new Turespaña advertising campaign to strengthen Valencia as a tourist destination to markets all over the world

Industry | 1/22/2025

Hereu welcomes Stellantis' announcement to award a new electric vehicle platform to Spain

With this announcement, the Minister of Industry and Tourism believes that Spain is consolidating its position as an industrial sustainable mobility hub. Stellantis has been awarded a total of €74.2 million in direct aid and €26.8 million in loans from the PERTE VEC II value chain line

Industry | 1/21/2025

Ministry of industry, Xunta de Galicia, Alcoa and IGNIS subscribe to a future agreement Alcoa's San Ciprian

TheMoUshows the interest of the parties to work together with the workers to recover the activity, giving priority to the reactivation of the facilities of aluminium.The ministry of industry and tourism has already announced that it will increase aid to emission compensation ofCO2up to 600 million euros this year.It was agreed to expedite authorizations of renewable energy projects to achieve competitive energy costs.

Dana | 1/21/2025

The Government adopted the mechanism RESTART + FAIIP DANA equipped with 650 M €

These new subsidies are intended to provide financial support to promote industrial investment and maintenance of industrial capacities in areas affected by DANA.Loans are granted to a 0% interest and the return shall be up to 10 years, with 3-year period.The amount of the loan may range from 200,000 euros and a maximum of 40 million euros. Provides also grant loans to large companies will create a new establishment and start a new economic activity in the area.The granting of aid will be, in general, until 30 november 2028. Requests shall be made through the platform of FAIIP, managed by SEPIDES.

Tourism | 1/20/2025

International air passengers increase by 11.1% in 2024, exceeding 100 million for the first time

With respect to 2023 data, the number of arrivals rose by more than 10 million, with 86.1% of passengers coming from European countries and 8.9% from America In December 2024, a total number of 7.2 million passengers arrived from international airports, up 8.6% In 2024, worth highlighting is the increase of more than 40% in travellers from Poland and 15% in travellers from the U.S. Asia was the geographic area of origin with the highest year-on-year growth in international passengers (up 22.8%)

Industry | 1/17/2025

Hereu highlights the strategic nature of the gigafactoría of Stellantis and CATL received £300M in aid of the government of spain

For the minister of industry and tourism draft gigafactoría of Zaragoza will be crucial to making progress in the transition to the electric car in which both is gambling industry and the government of spain. By 2024 has completed the second convocation of VEC L, section of batteries and value chain, with a total of $1.049 billion awarded. Is the third call for LOSS VEC. Furthermore, it is foreseen that this year launched the LOSS VEC IV through SEPIDES, 1,250 million euros.

Tourism | 1/17/2025

The tourist employment rose by 3.8 per cent in the month of december and 2024 ends up the largest number of members of the historical series

The number of workers linked to the tourism sector amount in december new 98.387 covered by Social securityIn december, the number of employees in the tourism sector increased by 4.4 per cent and the self-employed in the form of a 1.1%Employment is increasing in all NATIONAL and in relative terms, andalusia and The Canary Islands are the two regions grows fastest

Industry | 1/16/2025

Hereu calls for strengthening Spain's strategic autonomy to boost the positioning of our industry in the world

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has highlighted the PERTE, the clusters and the new Law on Industry and Strategic Autonomy as key elements for Spain to become more sustainable and competitive following reindustrialisation. The minister announced the transformation of the current Connected Industry Awards and, as of the next edition, they will be known as the National ‘Well Made in Spain’ Awards. This year's winners were Cosentino Industrial and Industrial Lácteas Monteverde.

Dana | 1/16/2025

The deadline for the Reinicia+ FEPYME DANA Mechanism is now open, with €350 M

The objective of granting participative loans with a non-repayable part to small and medium-sized enterprises in the industrial, tourism and service sectors in the municipalities affected by the flash floods. Companies will be able to apply for these grants until 31 December 2025 through ENISA's website. The loan amount will range from €25,000 to €150,000, with a repayment period of up to 7 years and a 2-year grace period. The non-repayable part can be up to 15% of the loan amount, spread over all instalments. And the repayable part will have an interest rate of 0%.

Tourism | 1/15/2025

Hereu announces another historic year for tourism: international tourist spending in 2024 to reached €126 billion

Projected spending and tourist arrivals figures at the end of 2024 reveal that spending will grow by around 16% compared to 2023 and visitor numbers will rise by 10% The forecast for the first four months of 2025 anticipates that international tourist spending and the number of foreign visitors will exceed the figures recorded in the first four months of 2024 The Minister highlights that Spain is moving towards a higher quality and more diversified tourism model, in terms of season, products and destinations alike, in line with the public policies being fostered by the Government At FITUR 2025, which gets underway on January 22, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism will focus on strengthening Spain's image as a tourism destination committed to sustainability

Industry | 1/15/2025

Hereu encourages large international investors to invest in Spain

According to the minister, Spain is moving towards the modernisation of its industry and tourism through sustainability and the creation of new quality jobs. The Minister of Industry and Tourism recalled that the new Industry and Strategic Autonomy Law is the key to instilling confidence in foreign investors, as it includes the a 'strategic industrial project', that entails streamlining authorisations and procedures for new projects.

Industry | 1/13/2025

Deadline for applications for the second call of PERTE Chip open

€110 million, to foster microelectronics projects. The deadline to submit requests will expire on 31January 2025. €65.4 million were awarded in the first PERTE Chip call for proposals.

Industry | 1/10/2025

The Ministry of Industry, the Government of Navarre and BSH set up a working group to look into alternatives to closing the Esquíroz plant

Jordi Hereu and María Chivite request a commitment from BSH to work on re-industrialisation opportunities and to identify industrial projects to take advantage of the existing talent and infrastructure.

Industry | 1/9/2025

Hereu defends rationality and science against millionaires who come to exploit Europe.

Asturias has received more than €78 million from the industrial PERTE, most of it for decarbonisation. Jordi Hereu thanks Bayer for its commitment and support for Spain, on the 125th anniversary of the multinational pharmaceutical company setting up here. 

Industry | 1/7/2025

The Ministry of Industry will lead a Monitoring Committee following the formalisation of the takeover ofThyssenKrupp-Galmedby OHEquity Investments

The Secretary of State for Industry, Rebeca Torró, visits the ThyssenKrupp-Galmed production centre in Sagunto, accompanied by the town mayor, and offers the company the different instruments of the Ministry, such as the FAIIP and PERTE, to help the company face future challengesRebeca Torró urges the Autonomous Community of Valencia to join in the monitoring committee with the companyThe Secretary of State for Industry has been intensively negotiating and mediating over the last few months to guarantee the future viability of the Sagunto plant and to strengthen a strategic sector, such as the galvanised steel sector in Spain./p>

Tourism | 1/3/2025

Cumulative spending by international tourists through November exceeds €118,000 M, up 16.7%

More than 88.5 million international travellers visited Spain in the first eleven months of the year 2024, 10.7% more than in the same period last year. Tourist spending in November was €7.709 billion, 16% more than in the same month of 2023, and arrivals also grew by 10.3% to over 5.6 million. In November, each visitor spent an average of €1,361, 5.2% more than in 2023, and the expenditure per day and traveller also increased by 2.4%, reaching €178. A sharp increase - of 40.9% in tourist arrivals and 35.5% in expenditure - in the group of communities not part of the six considered to be major destinations, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the ministry's policies of deconcentration of tourism.

Tourism | 12/27/2024

7.9 million planned international seats for January, 6.5% more than a year ago

The main outbound markets to Spain continued to perform well compared to January 2024: United Kingdom (+3.7%), Germany (+1.5%) and Italy (+12.1%). Worth mentioning in January was the acceleration in Turkey and the Czech Republic with growth projections of more than 15%

Industry | 12/23/2024

Ministry of Industry awards €1.6 million to four projects for the industrial strengthening of the agri-food sector

With this PERTE, whose second call has a budget of €100 million, the Government seeks to foster quality employment in the agri-food sector. The Autonomous Community of Valencia, with the companies FRIMAR PANADEROS, TROLLI IBÉRICA and DAMEL GROUP, received the most aid.

Industry | 12/17/2024

Master Miguel Ángel Torres Ferreras wins the 2024 National Craft Award

The Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, recognises the growing role of Spanish craftsmanship, which strikes the perfect balance between tradition, innovation, the use of new technologies and sustainability.The sector generates more than €4 billion in Gross Value Added and represents 0.4% of the national GDP.

Dana | 12/9/2024

More than 1,200 concessionaires have adhered to the Reinicia Auto+ Plan, amounting to €465 million

The largest number of concessionaires are in the province of Valencia, with a total of 181, followed by Barcelona, with 126, and Madrid, with 123 concessionaires. The amount of aid for this Plan will depend on the type of vehicle and its environmental label.

Industry | 12/5/2024

Hereu highlights the work of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce to promote the development and growth of companies

The Minister of Industry and Tourism announced that the Law on Industry and Strategic Autonomy would be adopted in the coming weeks.The Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry signed a collaboration agreement in January to foster actions supporting entrepreneurship.

Industry | 12/4/2024

The Secretary of State for Industry uses the PERTEs as a successful example of collaboration between the Public Administration and private sector

Rebeca Torró reminded that the PERTE VEC entails an investment of more than €3.7 billion.These public PERTE VEC aid strive to successfully meet the mobility model that this electrified, sustainable and affordable Government has committed to.Within the framework of the DANA (flash flooding), the Ministry of Industry and Tourism has launched the Plan Reinicia Auto + with €465 million earmarked so that the more than 120,000 affected can easily replace vehicles that were destryoed in the flash flooding.

Industry | 12/4/2024

Hereu and the Andalusian Ministry of Industry agree to continue to cooperate to bring new industrial projects to Andalusia

The minister has provided the government's collaboration with the Regional Government of Andalusia to attract new investments, and makes Perte VEC IV available to drive the DESAY project in Linares. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has invested approximately €63 billion in Andalusia within the framework of the industrial PERTEs.Cunext Copper Industries of Córdoba, with €30 million to implement a new process of copper production has been one of the projects who benefit most.Jordi Hereu hoped that the draft bill on Industry and Strategic Autonomy could be adopted before the end of the year by the Council of Ministers, in order to begin with the parliamentary procedure as soon as possible.

Tourism | 12/3/2024

Cumulative expenditures of international tourists until October reaches more than €110 billion

More 82.8 million international travellers have visited Spain in the first ten months of 2024, 10.8% more than the same period last year.Tourist expenditures in October was €11.898 billion, 15.5% more than the same month in 2023, and also arrivals also grew: 9.5%, to more than 8.9 million.In October, every visitor spent an average of €1,327, 5.5% more than in 2023, and spending per day and traveller also rose 2.9% to €191.The marked increase – 19.5% in the arrival of tourists and 26.2% in expenditure – in all communities that are not considered as the six major recipients, demonstrating the effectiveness of tourism deconcentration policies implemented by the ministry.

Dana | 12/2/2024

As of today, interested concessionaires can adhere to the aid programme for the purchase of vehicles for the citizens affected by the DANA (flash flooding)

€465 million have been earmarked, so that all citizens who need to buy a vehicle, having lost their own one, can receive direct payments of up to €10,000 that they will not have to pay back.The purchase and, therefore, the submission of applications for aid, will be made at the point of sale adhered to the Plan.Aid will come in the form of a non-refundable grant. In the case of natural persons, if they are accredited by the DGT as owning more than one insured damaged vehicle, they will qualify for a maximum of two grants. In the case of legal persons, up to a maximum of 5.There will be a telephone and an email address set up to obtain information relating to the RESTARTS AUTO +programme

Dana | 11/21/2024

Hereu announces that the Ministry of Industry is completing new measures to help companies affected by the DANA.

The new support and boosting measures will prioritise revitalising the productive fabric and assisting industrial and tourism companies, especially SMEs, in the areas which have been affected. Hereu assures that the Government is working tirelessly with the automotive sector in order to ensure that those affected can soon acquire new vehicles under highly favourable conditions. Jordi Hereu: “ We are a Ministry profoundly committed to the recovery phase, which will involve transformation processes. We will rebuild this together, and we will do so by improving”.

Industry | 11/18/2024

Hereu announces the provisional approval of 13 new decarbonisation PERTE projects worth €86 million

Industrias Celulosa Aragonesa, Mercedes Benz, Industrias Lácteas Asturianas, Borges and Cementos Molins are among the beneficiary companies. With these new resolutions, the first call for Line 1 of the Decarbonization PERTE initiative has already granted nearly 400 million euros in subsidies and almost €1 million in loans. During his speech, Minister Hereu rated the work of entities such as Eurecat, which promotes a competitive and innovative industry that generates value and well-being for society, very positively.

Tourism | 11/18/2024

International air passengers increased by 8.5% in October, reaching a total of 9.8 million.

From January to October, Spain registered 91.5 million passengers, an 11.3% increase compared to 2023. Within the autonomous communities, Andalusia, with 11.4%, followed by Valencia, with 10.8%, were the ones that experienced the greatest year on year increase in October Trend towards the market diversification continues to be strengthened, with the good performance of some Latin American countries, Canada, China and United Arab Emirates

Tourism | 11/15/2024

Aínsa (Huesca) and Mura (Barcelona), recognized as 2024 Best Tourism Villages for UN Tourism.

Pals (Girona) will receive guidance to further improve and strive once again for this distinction from UN Tourism The State Secretary for Tourism has congratulated those municipalities for being a source of inspiration for Rural Spain, proving that tourism can become one of the engines of development and well-being of their local communities Sánchez Grau: “Spain's commitment to sustainability is the essence of the Spanish tourism strategy and a way of managing our destinations”

Tourism | 11/15/2024

Tourism-related employment continues to rise, with nearly 100,000 new Social Security affiliates added as of October.

The number of affiliates grows by 3.7% in the first full month of Autumn and tourism employment reaches a total of 2.75 million Affiliates in the tourism sector continue to grow above the economy as a whole (one and a half percentage points more) The number of employees in the tourism sector increased in October by 4.3% and the number of self-employed workers increased by 1%. In absolute numbers, the largest increase in October occurred in Andalusia, while in relative terms the largest increases occurred in the Canary Islands (4.8%) and Andalusia (4.6%).

Tourism | 11/12/2024

Industry is collaborating with the automotive sector on measures to help  those affected by the DANA to acquire vehicles

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism is working on several proposals in order to provide additional help, supplementing the compensation offered by the Insurance Compensation Consortium The goal is to set up an alliance with the sector to quickly restore mobility for those affected by the DANA in the Region of Valencia The Government has approved measures totalling 14.373 billion euros to respond to the emergency situation caused by the DANA

Tourism | 10/31/2024

International tourists spend over €99 billion up to September, 16.9% more than in the first nine months of 2023

More than 73.9 million international travellers have visited Spain during the first nine months of the year 2024, 10.9% more than the same period last year. Tourists spent €12.62 billion in September, 12.7% up on the same month of 2023, and arrivals also rose by 9.1% to over 9.6 million In September, each visitor spent an average of €1,315, 3.3% more than in 2023; spending per day also rose by 3.8% to €195.

Tourism | 10/29/2024

The State Secretariat for Tourism's training programme has reached 15,000 enrolled students.

This training programme, which began in situ in 2009, already has twenty-five editions As of 2011 it's been taught online, with free training processes that range from 15 minutes to 32 teaching hours. New training courses are added every week, and registering can be done on the tourism and training page. People who are interested can ask for more details and personalised information by sending an email to anfitriones@turismo-formacion.com

Industry | 10/24/2024

Hereu announces nine new projects of line B of the PERTE VEC II for€21.84 M

These are the applications from Tekinatest Solutions (€1.79 M), NTDD New Digital Diesel Technology (€2.28 M), Lizarte SA (157,560 euros), Pomceg Electronics (287,557 euros), Next Mobility Solutions (€1,44 M), Rieju SA (€12,74 M), Instalaciones y Montajes del Ebro Alegre Melero (778,479 euros), Mol Matric SCCL (491,105 euros), and Masats SA (€1.86 M). To add to that, the final resolutions have been updated. Sidenor's allegations have been accepted, to which 3.87 million euros are proposed. Borgwarner’s allegations were also accepted, awarding them 22.15 million euros. Overall, the industrial PERTES have benefited 46 projects within industries connected to the chemical sector, making up of a total of nearly 160 million euros.

Tourism | 10/24/2024

The State Secretary announces the definitive concession of aid for the digitalisation of tourism SMEs worth 69 million euros

This marks the second edition of the Last Mile aid programme, aimed at implementing unique and transformative technological projects within tourism companies. The final resolution grants aid to 300 projects presented by nearly 400 beneficiaries. When speaking about the Modernization and Competitiveness Plan for the Tourism Sector, Sánchez Grau stressed that "the initiatives have been planned, and an unprecedented budget for tourism has been allocated in record amount of time." The Spanish Tourism Council (CONESTUR) unanimously approved a Declaration of Support for Tourism, which the secretary has given as an example of a “shared agenda.”. The final document of the Sustainable Tourism Strategy Spain 2030 is underway, aiming to place Spain as the global leader in sustainable tourism by placing people at the very centre of the tourism ecosystem.

Tourism | 10/23/2024

Spain and Portugal have renewed their cross-border tourism strategy, highlighting triple sustainability and competitiveness.

The aim is to strengthen innovative tourism as a driver of development and revitalisation for cross-border towns. The goal is to position the Iberian Peninsula as one of the most competitive and sustainable tourist destinations in the world. Hereu: "With the renewal of this commitment, the governments of Portugal and Spain ratify our joint commitment to the economic and social development of the cross-border territory". The first Strategy for the Sustainability of Cross-Border Tourism was signed in 2022 and expires in November 2024.

Industry | 10/21/2024

Hereu highlights the high level of technology in Spanish shipyards

Astilleros de Santander (Santander Shipyards) has received 1.5 million euros from the Naval PERTE for 8 primary projects for the digitalization and sustainability of its production processes. The Naval PERTE has granted 81 million euros to 4 tractor projects that bring together 84 primary projects..

Industry | 10/18/2024

Hereu announces the launch of the second edition of the Chip PERTE with a budget of €200M

This new edition will have two sections, one to promote projects for the microelectronics value change and a second section aimed at Important Projects of Common European Interest. In the first edition of the Chip PERTE 65.4 million euros were awarded to the companies KDPOF and Semidynamics. The Minister of Industry and Tourism recalled the Government’s commitment to the development and modernisation of industrial estates.

Tourism | 10/18/2024

There were 10.6 million international air passengers in September, 10.1% more than the same month in 2023

From January to September, Spain welcomed 81.7 passengers, 11.7% up on 2023. The highest increase was recorded in the Region of Valencia with a rise of 15.9%; the lowest, the Canary Islands with 8.6% and Balearic Islands with 5%. As already seen in July and August, these data reveal a sustained trend towards greater diversification of destinations among international travellers. The trend towards market diversification is consolidated with good performance by Ibero-American countries (an increase of 15.6%), Canada (18.3%), China (71.8%) and Persian Gulf countries (34.9%).

Tourism | 10/17/2024

Employment linked to the tourism sector continues to attract new registered workers and grows by 2.6% in September

In the last month of the summer, the number of registered workers in the tourism sector rose by 73,107 compared to the previous year. Employment in tourism stands at around 2.9 million registered workers, 13.5% of the economy as a whole. In September, the number of employees in the tourism sector increased by 3.1% compared to the same month in 2023. In both absolute and relative terms (4.5%), the Canary Islands is the region that saw most growth in September.

Industry | 10/15/2024

The Government approves €78M to finance young entrepreneurs and SMEs

The money will be divided into two lines of funding: the SME line with 57.5 million euros and the Young Entrepreneurs line with a budget of 20.5 million euros. An estimated 431 business projects are expected to be covered with an induced investment of 94.6 million euros.

Industry | 10/14/2024

The Ministry of Industry announces the finalists of the sixth edition of the National Connected Industry 4.0 Awards

These Awards are a tool to identify, disseminate and acknowledge successful Spanish projects in Industry 4.0, which contributes to promoting sector prestige and supporting the Marca España brand. The two winners will be announced in Barcelona by Minister Jordi Hereu on 14 November, during the National Industry Conference.

Tourism | 10/11/2024

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism grants €19.7 million in aid for the 2023 Tourism Experiences Programme

Tourism will subsidise 41 projects (7 individual and 34 cooperative) that benefit 230 entities. This edition of the 2023 Experiences programme was assigned €20 million in aid to strengthen the value of the country’s material and immaterial heritage and to attract quality tourism. The various editions of the Spain Tourism Experiences initiative have a total budget of €100 million.

Industry | 10/10/2024

Hereu stresses the impact of €61.5 million from the various PERTE for the industrial development of Cantabria

SEG Automotive has received more than €10.5 million from the Moves Singulares II programme for three sustainable mobility projects. As part of the PERTE VEC III, €21 million to Lifthium Energy Cantabria stand out. Or €30 million from the decarbonisation PERTE to ENSO ESCO for a project led by Solvay in Torrelavega. The Minister of Industry has reiterated the Government’s commitment to companies working for sustainable mobility, supporting the drive to attract new investments and create qualified jobs with European funds.

Tourism | 10/9/2024

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism leads, together with the Autonomous Communities, City Halls and social agents, a declaration of support for responsible tourism

Minister Jordi Hereu chairs the meeting of the Spanish Tourism Council (CONESTUR), where new advances have been made to strengthen the Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2030. Hereu underlines the importance of dialogue and consensus to transform the sector, to place people at its very centre as well as to consolidate tourism as an engine of economic development. CONESTUR is an advisory and consultative body formed by the public sector (central, regional and local government) and the private sector (CEOE, Chambers of Commerce and union organisations) that met for the last time in October 2022.

Industry | 10/9/2024

Hereu announces €25.5 million in aid for the electro-intensive industry.

This aid helps offset costs related to supporting renewable energy and efficient energy production, as well as covering additional expenses in island and other non-mainland territories. This contribution complements other aid for the electro-intensive industry, including over €900 million in CO2 emissions compensation provided by this Government since 2019.

Industry | 10/8/2024

Hereu announces the granting of €133 M to Stellantis Figueruelas within the third call of the PERTE VEC

With the aid that was announced today, the Stellantis Group has received nearly 300 million euros, more than 272 million euros in subsidies and 26 million euros in loans. The resolution, which will be published in the next few days, includes other aid; 2 million euros to Stellantis Vigo; 3 million euros for Mahle Behr Spain of Tarragona; and 2.5 million euros for Ficosa of Barcelona. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has increased the subsidy for the PowerCo gigafactory in Sagunto, which is aiming to improve its project, and which now rises from 98 million euros to 152 million.

Industry | 10/7/2024

The Ministry of Industry approves 14 new projects under line 1 of the PERTE for industrial decarbonisation, worth €96.3 M

The minister Jordi Hereu made the announcement today at a forum on new economy in the Zona Franca special economic zone in Barcelona.Including the funds announced today, the Ministry of Industry has now awarded 323 million in aid from the PERTE for industrial decarbonisation, counting both provisional and definitive resolutions.BarcelonaNew Economy Week is a forum that brings together actors and businesses in the fields of digital industry, mobility or sustainability under the umbrella of the so-called New Economy.

Industry | 10/4/2024

Hereu stresses the impetus of the Ministry for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as driving forces behind industrial transformation

The Minister of Industry and Tourism valued the importance of PERTEs as an instrument to support new products and public corporations such as ENISA, which is behind various lines of credit for SMEs and certifies new startups. The minister recalled that this week the EOI has opened the application period for the first national edition of aid for the ‘Activa Startup’ programme assigned with a budget of around €7 million for grants of up to €9,500. At an event on SMEs held yesterday at the EOI headquarters, the president of the Government announced that the executive will allocate €4.5 billion in subsidies and nearly €50 billion in loans from the Recovery Plan.

Tourism | 10/3/2024

The Secretary of State for Tourism underlines the vital contribution of tourism to international peace and well-being

Rosario Sánchez Grau “tourism is a generous sector that drives the Spanish economy, generates opportunities and inspires to fulfil people’s dreams”. As president of Turespaña, she also took part in the panel discussion on ‘The strategic transformation of the Spanish tourist model’ at the annual convention organised by the state body.

Tourism | 10/2/2024

International tourists spend over 86.4 billion euros in Spain up to August, an increase of 17.55%

Minister Jordi Hereu revealed the figures at the opening of the Turespaña convention held in Tenerife with sector digitalisation as the core theme. In August, foreign visitors contributed 15.36 billion euros, 12.9% more than the same month in 2023 Jordi Hereu “we must continue to look to diversification, seasonal adjustment and digitalisation for the prosperity left by tourism to reach every corner of Spain”. Jordi Hereu has highlighted that this is a good time for employment in tourism, with a 5.5% increase in August (150,000 new affiliations) and a total of around 2.9 million people employed in the tourism sector

Industry | 10/1/2024

Industry opens a new call for the Activa Startups programme, offering SMEs up to €9,500 to improve their innovation

The State Secretariat for Industry, through the EOIFoundation, plans to help 735 SMEs all over national territory in this call with Next Generation-EU funds. The planned investment amounts to 6,987,950 euros from the funds of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. This initiative, framed in the National Connected Industry 4.0 Strategy, aims to promote open innovation as well as business growth by developing collaborative projects between SMEs and startups.

Tourism | 9/27/2024

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism hands out certificates to 13 new Festivals of National and International Tourist Interest

Jordi Hereu stresses the potential attraction for domestic and international tourism of these distinctions, which contribute to furthering the ministry’s objectives for the deconcentration and deseasonalisation of tourist flows. With these new additions, 156 Festivals of National Tourist Interest and 82 of International Interest are now recognised by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. The Festivals of National and International Interest are honours awarded to festivities of particular cultural value, popular tradition and tourist attraction. Today is World Tourism Day, which in 2024 invites us to reflect on interconnections between tourism and peace.

Industry | 9/26/2024

Spain is committed to a new European pact for industry to ensure fair competition with third countries

Jordi Hereu advocates reducing energy as a key element for European companies. Existing legislation in the EU must also be reduced and simplified as the regulatory framework is creating barriers and uncertainties for industrial investment. The minister calls for financial resources to be mobilised to enable the development of industrial and technological capacities in the EU and proposes the creation of an EU financial instrument to ensure the success of European industrial policy. He also asked the EU to maintain its investment effort beyond 2026, the revised end date for the Recovery Plans. The head of Spanish industry has asked for a plan of action in the automotive sector with a simplified and coherent law that proposes a realistic future.

Tourism | 9/23/2024

Jordi Hereu vindicates the potential of oleotourism as a generator of regional wealth and a support of inland tourism

The OleotourJaén Tourism Sustainability Plan obtained 4.5 million euros from the 2022 National Food and Wine Plan. Hereu has highlighted the olive oil sector’s efforts in providing innovative and distinctive tourism experiences. The province of Jaén has been given more than €40M in aid in total in 18 sustainability, digitalization and heritage plans. Minister Hereu has paid a visit to the Oro Bailén Oil Mill in order to learn fist-hand about the complete oil manufacturing process and its use as a tourism experience.

Tourism | 9/21/2024

Jordi Hereu advocates at the G20 Tourism for gearing towards a sustainable tourism model that puts people at the very centre

At the summit, Hereu has underlined tourism’s social contribution as well as its vital role in creating quality jobs in the sector, especially when it comes to women and young people. The minister has highlighted Spain's international leadership position in the sector and the large investment that is being carried out through European funds for the tourism model’s transformation Minister Hereu has announced that the CONESTUR meeting will take place on 9 October, the meeting being the forum for dialogue between public and private sectors, in order to progress in the road map for future tourism Regarding the G20, Jordi Hereu has maintained bilateral meetings with representatives from Germany, India, Saudi Arabia, Portugal and Brazil.

Industry | 9/19/2024

Jordi Hereu announces the first three interim resolutions of the PERTE VECIII for €53 M

Specifically, the projects by Renault Spain in Valladolid, with 27.7 million; Lifthium Energy Cantabria in Torrelavega, with 21 million; and Gestamp in Palau-solità i Plegamans, with 4.6 million. The deadline for line B of PERTE VEC III endowed with 200 million euros also began this week; the fourth edition will be launched before year end with another 1.25 billion. Jordi Hereu stresses the good relations with China and expects many other companies to follow in the footsteps of Chery or Envision to develop their industrial projects in Spain.

Industry | 9/18/2024

Industry has granted 240 million euros in support of the decarbonisation PERTE

Grants for line 4 of the Decarbonisation PERTE can be applied for until 26 September, with a total assignment of 140 million euros. The company Mahou has benefitted from 4.5 million euros in grants from line 1 of the decarbonisation PERTE. Spain ranks second in Europe in beer production. The sector has over 540,000 employees.

Tourism | 9/18/2024

Spain received 11.1 million international air travellers in August, 9.6% more than the same month in 2023

Between January and August, Spain received 71.2 million international air travellers, 11.9% up on 2023. The highest increase was recorded in the Region of Valencia with a 13.1% rise; the lowest in the Canary Islands with 9.8% and Balearic Islands with 6%. These figures highlight the sustained trend towards a greater diversification of destinations. The notable month-on-month growth of Poland is worthy of special mention, with 39.6%, United States with a 16.2% increase and ‘other countries’ with a rise of 12.1%. In terms of market diversification, Ibero-American countries, Canada, China and Persian Gulf countries stand out.

Tourism | 9/17/2024

The Moors and Christians festivities of Ontinyent (Valencia) are declared a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest

With this, the Region of Valencia now has 15 popular celebrations declared Fiesta of International Tourist Interest Its root, popularity and ability to generate a deep sense of belonging to the community, forming part of the city’s history and culture, is what has made this celebration worthy of recognition

Tourism | 9/17/2024

Employment in the tourism industry grew by 5.5% in August accounting for more than 151,000 new registered workers compared to a year ago

Employment in tourism stabilises at 2.9 million registered workers, 13.8% of all employees in the economy. In August, the number of employees in the tourism sector increased by 6.4% compared to the same month in 2023. Social Security affiliation has grown in this month in all the autonomous communities, and with remarkable intensity in the communities of Cantabria (7.6%) and Extremadura (6%).

Tourism | 9/12/2024

Hereu praises the cultural, wine and gastronomic value of Castile-La Mancha as a driving force for inland tourism

The Wine Routes Project has received more than €2.4 million in its various editions, with around €300,000 going to Castile-La Mancha. Between January and July of this year, Castile-La Mancha welcomed over 2.7 million tourists from other regions of Spain and more than 140,000 international tourists, who so far this year have spent around €190 million in the region. The boom of inland tourism in Castile-La Mancha is also reflected in increased employment. According to the latest social security affiliation data, more than 75,000 people are employed in work related to the tourism industry.

Tourism | 9/10/2024

Hereu highlights the good management of Paradores, which will end 2024 with more than €340M in revenue and €35M in benefits, 17% more than in 2023

Hereu highlights the importance of a model that contributes to quality tourism as well as integration, territorial cohesion and the recovery of historical heritage. Paradores has increased the number of customers by 10% during the first half of the year compared to the first half of 2023. An investment of 190 million euros was announced last July in order to improve the quality of the offer, to increase building comfort as well as making these buildings more sustainable and efficient.

Tourism | 9/10/2024

The Government approves a new Historic Vehicles Regulation

Vehicles manufactured or registered for the first time at least 30 years ago will be considered historic. Also those included in the General Inventory of Spanish Historic Heritage Assets, declared of cultural interest or those with a special interest. The new regulation, which will enter into force on 1 October, urges councils to establish formulas in their municipal bylaws to allow this type of vehicles to circulate. Historic vehicles we be used occasionally and never as a daily means of transport to minimise their environmental impact.

Industry | 9/10/2024

Industry approves 7 new projects of line B of the PERTE VEC II for €39.7 M

They are the applications from Renault España, Idneo Technologies, Dana Automoción, Cebi Electromechanical Components Spain, Doga, Wall Box Chargers and Alcorta Forging Group. On the closing date of the edition, 138 applications had been received with a joint budget of over €2.7 billion.

Industry | 9/6/2024

Jordi Hereu visits the Cepsa Energy Park in San Roque and meets with businessmen to learn about their investment projects

The minister has highlighted the importance of the industrial location and large quality tourism space that the Campo de Gibraltar represents. Cepsa executives have shown the progress of the various projects in which it is moving forward with the aim of decarbonising its activity; ones concerning other industrial sectors as well as those linked to transport and tourism. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has already opened the window as of yesterday until next 26 September to request aid for line 4 of the Industrial Decarbonisation Perte, endowed with 140 million euros. Campo de Gibraltar is one of the most dynamic and important industrial centres in Spain, in job creation as well as in investment and gross added value.

Industry | 9/5/2024

Hereu stresses the renewal of the textile industry and momentum of circularity and sustainability as a basis for production

Hereu reminded textile industry representatives that the Ministry of Industry has an instrument to support businesses in their energy transition -the decarbonisation PERTE- with several lines still open and to be opened. The sector has received help from the Circular Economy PERTE to improve the sustainability, competitiveness and innovation of textile and footwear manufacturing processes. Spain’s fashion industry employs 130,000 workers, represents 2.8% of national GDP and has a turnover of around €15 billion each year.

Tourism | 9/4/2024

The Empanada de A Bandeira festival in Silleda (Pontevedra) is declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest

It is the eleventh popular celebration to receive this recognition in the autonomous community of Galicia. This declaration recognises the capacity of this popular festival in combining culture, gastronomy and tradition as well as in contributing to the decentralisation of tourism. Moreover, it recognises its role in uniting the territory and strengthening the economy of a town of just over 700 residents.

Industry | 9/3/2024

The Government grants €150 million to the Green Cobra green hydrogen project

The project foresees investments by Cobra of €742 million, and is estimated to have an impact on employment of around more than 500 direct jobs, and more than 600 indirect jobs. The Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, has made an assessment of the different PERTEs that are managed by his department, with a special focus on the automotive industry and the decarbonisation of production processes.

Industry | 8/30/2024

Jordi Hereu encourage companies to submit their plans for the second edition of the Agro PERTE, endowed with €100 M

This second edition of the Agro PERtE will promote digital transformation and sustainability, with a new line of direct support to investments for SMEs. The period for submitting applications will begin on 19 September and end on 21 October 2024. This Friday, Jordi Hereu has visited the production plant of meat company Noel Alimentaria, in Girona.

Industry | 8/29/2024

Jordi Hereu and Miquel Sàmper analyse policies aimed at boosting reindustrialisation and the transformation of the tourism model

The Minister of Industry and Tourism and the Minister of Business and Labor held their first working meeting to address the challenges facing the industrial and tourism sectors Jordi Hereu assured the Minister of the Government's support for the modernisation of Catalonia's industrial sector and the launch of new industrial projects

Tourism | 8/28/2024

The Magical Autumn of Valle del Ambroz (Caceres) has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest

It’s the fourth popular celebration in the autonomous community of Extremadura to receive this recognition, joining Holy Week in Cáceres, Holy Week in Mérida and the Carnival of Badajoz This honour recognises the event’s ability to transform autumn into a celebration of nature, with strong tourism potential and territorial cohesion, as well as being deeply rooted in the region's cultural and heritage elements

Tourism | 8/19/2024

Spain received more than 11 million international air passengers in July

July saw remarkable growth in arrivals to some Autonomous Communities in the north, such as the Basque Country and Asturias, and the lowest year on year increase in the Balearic and Canary Islands, figures that show a trend towards greater diversification of destinations. More than half of all international air travellers (56.6%) were from the European Union.

Tourism | 8/14/2024

Turespaña allocates the conservation works for the Parador de Santiago for 11 million euros

The Resolution also includes the awarding of contracts for the execution of improvement, restoration and enhancement works at the Úbeda, La Granja, Ronda and Lorca paradores. The deadline for completing the works varies in each parador, ranging between 8 months for the Parador de La Granja and 19 months for the Parador de Santiago, starting from the signing of the corresponding contracts. These actions fall within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) of the Spanish Government, through the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, financed with Next Generation European funds

Tourism | 8/8/2024

The number of workers in the tourism sector increased by 3.5% compared to a year ago, approaching 3 million employees

For the second quarter of 2024, there are 101,008 more employees in tourism activities than in the same quarter for 2023 Salaried employees in the tourism sector with permanent contracts have increased by 8.4%, the twelfth consecutive increase The temporary employment rate in the tourism sector was 16.1%, lower than that of the second quarter of 2023, which was 19.6%

Industry | 8/7/2024

The Ministry of Industry opens a call with €140 M in aid from the first part of line 4 of the Decarbonisation PERTE

Of the 140 million euros in aid to be awarded in this call, 90 million euros will be distributed in the form of subsidies and another 50 million euros in the form of loans. By opening up this new line of aid, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism is advancing in its commitment to strengthening the industrial decarbonisation of our production system. In July, €97.5M were proposed as subsidies for 14 comprehensive action projects to decarbonise the manufacturing industry. This aid is part of line 1 of the Decarbonisation PERTE.

Tourism | 8/2/2024

International tourist spending grows more than 20% in the first six months of the year and reaches €55.5 billion

Spain has received more than 42 million international travellers during the first half of 2024, 13.3% more than in the same period last year. Each visitor spent an average of 1,329 euros in June, 4% more than in 2023, and spending per day also had a rise of 1.9%, reaching 196 euros There is a significant increase in visitors from the 'rest of the world', which grew by 25.8% in the first six months, this exemplifying the fact that the ministry's policies aimed at diversifying source markets are being successful.

Tourism | 7/31/2024

Cáceres will host the 5th TURESPAÑA Convention in 2025

The city in Extremadura will take over from Tenerife, which will host the 4th Convention from 1 to 3 October, in La Pirámide de Arona The next meeting be held in early October 2025, a key moment in the beginning of the operational planning for the Tourism Ministries abroad

Tourism | 7/31/2024

The seats provided for in international flights for august reached 12.6 million, a 10.3 per cent more than a year ago

Comparing the number of seats in august with the same month of 2023, continued its good behaviour of the major broadcasting markets: United Kingdom (+ 7.7%), Germany (+ 8.5%), Italy (+ 13.1%) and France (9.4 per cent).

Industry | 7/29/2024

The Spanish Metrology Centre conducted more than 4,500 metrology controls in 2023

The Centre just presented its Annual Report for the past year, where it details the over one thousand calibrations it performed. Service to Spanish society, industry and science is the linchpin of its activity and the basis for future development.

Industry | 7/26/2024

The Government launches the third call for applications of the 'Digital Generation SMEs' plan to promote training in SMEs

This new call includes more flexible training at a national level with formats better suited to the needs of the recipients: 50-hour programmes, virtual modality, and with greater diversity in study topics. The EOI Foundation is in charge of managing the investment planned for this initiative, which initially amounts to 50.7 million euros in this call, this amount originating from the Recovery Plan funds.

Industry | 7/25/2024

Cement companies have submitted 12 projects with an investment of 234 M€ to the first call of the PERTE for industrial decarbonisation.

In total, these investments would avoid the emission of 572,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to 10% of the emissions of the applicant companies. Cemex Alcanar (Tarragona) has obtained 3 million euros in subsidies to improve its energy efficiency and increase the rate of alternative fuels in the combustion of the kiln. For the government, the main challenge for the cement industry is its decarbonisation and its commitment to the circular economy and digitalisation.

Tourism | 7/23/2024

Hereu conveyed to trade unions his commitment to quality employment in the tourism sector

• UGT and CCOO presented the “Fair and responsible hotel work” initiative, driven by both unions in collaboration with the University of Malaga and the State Secretariat for Tourism, to promote sustainable development and quality employment in the tourism sector. 

Tourism | 7/23/2024

Starts a new edition of ‘Hosts Tourism’, the programme of online training for professionals

The inscriptions for courses on 5 september, are already open and can be formalized through the web page Tourism-training This edition will feature more than 65 different formations in nearly 450 hours On 28 june edition concluded 24, with more than 3,100 certificates

Tourism | 7/22/2024

Paradores will invest 190 million euros between its own funds and those of Turespaña to recover historical heritage and improve the quality of the offer

Turespaña is carrying out actions to improve, recover and restore 39 Paradors declared of Cultural Interest, with an investment of 89 million euros with European funds. For the Minister Jordi Hereu, ‘Paradores is an instrument that helps us to decentralise tourist flows, deconcentrate destinations, diversify products and digitalise experiences’.

Industry | 7/19/2024

The Under-Secretary of Industry and Tourism renews agreements with the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

These agreements will allow students enrolled at the two universities to continue to carry out internships at the Ministry It consolidates the relationship between the University and the Ministry, renewing agreements signed in 2021

Tourism | 7/18/2024

The number of employees in the tourism sector increases by more than 137,000 during the month of June

Employment in the tourism sector increased by 5% compared to one year ago and grew to 2,903,571 registered workers in June Registered workers in tourism activities accounted for 13.6% of all registered workers in the national economy By Autonomous Community, the year on year increases in the Canary Islands (6.1%), the Community of Madrid (5.8%) and Andalusia (5.2%) stand out

Industry | 7/16/2024

Industry definitively approves 14 projects for the decarbonisation of the manufacturing industry

In total, 97.5 million euros worth of subsidies have been definitively awarded. The allegations of Gestamp Vigo (Pontevedra) and Cementos Tudela Veguín (León) have been considered.

Industry | 7/15/2024

Catalonia has received 742 M €of european funds in industry and tourism

The minister Jordi Hereu has indicated that the catalan tourism received 282 million euros of european funds and industry, a total of 460 million different LOSS that manages the ministry. The convening of Intelligent Tourist Destinations, with 96 million, has received 250 projects.

Industry | 7/12/2024

The ministry of industry and tourism renews the agreements with the Universidad politécnica de Madrid and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Will enable the realization of the ministry for students enrolled in each of them Initiative strengthens the interaction between the university and the ministry to rejuvenate agreements signed in 2021

Industry | 7/12/2024

Hereu announces that the second call for proposals for the Agro PERTE, endowed with €100 million, will be launched in August

Ametller Origen is included in the Agrosmed project, the business alliance promoted by fourteen companies with the aim of obtaining aid from the Agri-food PERTE. The group of companies has received 9 million euros from the first call of the Agro PERTE, of which 4.7 has been awarded to Ametller Origen. With this PERTE the Ministry of Industry and Tourism is aiming to create quality employment in the food and agriculture sector, especially in rural areas, where the agrifood business fabric has a larger presence.

Tourism | 7/11/2024

International tourists will spend more than 59 billion euros on their trips to Spain this summer, 22% more than last year

During the months of June, July, August and September, 41 million international tourists are expected to arrive in our country, 13% more than in the same period for 2023. Jordi Hereu: “The increase in spending, which is above the number of visitors, reiterates the leadership of the tourism model and encourages us to continue working on the strategy for sustainable and inclusive tourism that contributes to the preservation of destinations as well as the improvement of quality of life of workers and residents” A total of 327 projects are beneficiaries of nearly 70 million euros from the second call for “Last Mile” aid, focused on promoting tourist SME digitalisation

Industry | 7/10/2024

Hereu announces the publication of the call for aid to offset CO2 with €300 M

The minister has advanced the publication of three new favourable provisional resolution proposals for line 1 of the Industrial Decarbonisation PERTE that represent 16.1 million in aid. These are requests from GC, ARCELORMITAL ESPAÑA and ABN PIPE SYSTEMS. Since 2019, the Government has allocated close to 900 million euros to offset CO2 emission costs, rising from 6 million euros called for in 2018 to 244 in recent years, 2022 and 2023..

Tourism | 7/5/2024

Hereu announces aid for 208.5 million to City Halls and Autonomous Communities to finance 92 projects to improve Historical Heritage for tourist use

The selected projects take into account the characteristics of the destination as well as their viability and quality, and destinations at risk of depopulation have been assessed in order to boost their tourism potential and to strengthen social and territorial cohesion. Jordi Hereu highlights that the purpose of this aid is to boost cultural tourism through projects of maintenance and rehabilitation of historical heritage that clearly reflect the improvement of the touristic use of these assets. The Minister of Industry and Tourism has presented the new Parador of Molina de Aragón (Guadalajara) to the Chairwoman of Paradores, this parador being expected to open in September.

Industry | 7/4/2024

In September, the Ministry of Industry will launch the second call for applications for the PERTE Chip, endowed with €200 million

The PERTE Chip aims to strengthen the design and production capabilities of the microelectronics and semiconductor industry in Spain from a comprehensive perspective. KDPOF has obtained 26,82 million euros when first soliciting the LOSS of Chip that manages the ministry of industry and tourism. With this aid will become a pioneer company in Spain on packaging and tested microchips.

Industry | 7/3/2024

Hereu announces that the call for the PERTE VEC III value chain line, endowed with €200 million, will be published

The Minister of Industry has also announced that the verification commission has resolved the allegations of several companies that had submitted their projects to the PERTE VEC II value chain line. The financing of the projects has been increased by 115 million euros in total

Tourism | 7/3/2024

International tourist expenditure grows by 21.8% until May and exceeds 43.2 billion euros

Spain received 33 million international travellers in the first five months of 2024, 13.6% more than in the same period last year Each visitor spent an average of 1,263 euros in May, 7.3% more than last year, and spending per day also shows this growth, reaching 204 euros, with a 8.6% year on year increase Jordi Hereu: “What's most noteworthy is the increase in average spending per visitor, which is growing above inflation and contributes to the modernisation, sustainability and quality of employment in the sector”

Industry | 7/1/2024

Jordi Hereu announces the provisional approval of 12 new Decarbonisation PERTE projects worth €123.4 million

The Fertiberia plant in Avilés stands out among the beneficiaries, with a proposed subsidy of 60.8 million euros. Other notable companies are Saint Gobain Isover Ibérica in Azuqueca de Henares, with 13.2 million euros and Azucarera Ibérica, which has obtained 11.5 million euros for its installation in Toro With these new provisional resolutions, up to now, the Industrial Decarbonisation PERTE has already benefited 27 tractor projects (59 primary projects) with a total of 219 million euros in direct subsidies, which represents an emissions reduction of 711,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. At present, the Ministry of industry and Tourism has registered a total of 117 clusters which bring together 12,000 companies.

Tourism | 6/28/2024

Planned international seats for July reach 12.5 million, 9.5% more than a year ago

Comparing the forecasts for the number of seats in July with the information recorded on the equivalent date of 2023, the good performance of the main issuing markets continues : United Kingdom (+5.4%), Germany (+7.4%), Italy (+14.5%) and France (8.4%). Hereu: “This increase in planned seats on international flights compared to last year predicts a very positive summer season for the sector.”

Industry | 6/27/2024

Jordi Hereu highlights the new aid package for the Spanish industrial sector

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has referred to the extension of the Moves III Plan, the support for the gas-intensive industry and the 300 million euros to offset CO2 costs of the electro-intensive industry. In regard to ENISAJordi Hereu highlighted the startup certification process and the 9,000 participatory loans that it has granted to almost 8,000 small and medium-sized companies for a volume of approximately 1.4 billion euros. He also addressed the challenge in the tourism sector: to govern in terms of sustainability, distributing the benefits at a social level. To promote Spain through the concept of higher quality.

Tourism | 6/25/2024

Ana Muñoz Llabrés, appointed Director-General of Tourism Policies for the State Secretariat for Tourism

To date, Muñoz Llabrés has acted as Assistant Director-General for the development and sustainability of tourism in the State Secretariat for Tourism To ensure coordination and collaboration between administrations, agents and the sector to comply with the European Commission regarding the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and to consolidate a triple sustainable tourism model are the priority objectives of the Director-General

Industry | 6/25/2024

The Government approves €300 million in aid for the electro-intensive industry

Since 2019, the Government has allocated close to 900 million euros to compensate for the costs of C02 emissions. This aid shows the Government's commitment to the electro-intensive industrial sectors and enables them to improve their competitiveness, as well as boosting their industrial capacities and employment. TheECallows each Member State to offset the indirect costs of industries in certain sectors that are considered to be exposed to a significant risk of “carbon leakage” due to costs related to greenhouse gas emissions which affect electricity prices

Tourism | 6/25/2024

SPAIN exports the Smart Tourist Destination model to Ecuador

SEGITTURwill work with the city of Quito, the capital and largest city in the country, in its conversion into a smart tourist destination. Working with the STD methodology will provide a number of benefits, including the improvement of tourist experience, the increased interaction among tourists and residents, the cross-sectional use of tourism, sustainability management improvement, as well as the creation of new synergies

Industry | 6/20/2024

Hereu recognises the leadership of the chemical industry in the transition to the circular economy

The Minister of Industry and Tourism meets with the employers' association of the Spanish chemical sector, FEIQUE. To strengthen the transformation of the industry, the Government will promote the new Industry and Strategic Autonomy Act. The chemical industry, made up of more than 3,000 companies, is one of the largest and most consolidated industrial sectors in Spain.

Industry | 6/20/2024

Jordi Hereu analyses the decarbonisation of the sector with the President of the cement employers' association

Hereu expressed his intention during the meeting to deepen public-private collaboration with the objective of achieving climate neutrality. To achieve this, the minister reminded him that the Decarbonisation PERTE, endowed with 3.1 billion euros, is afoot. On 28 May, the provisional approval of the first 19 projects of line 1 of this PERTE was announced; among them, that of Cementos Tudela Veguín de León, with 3.7 million in aid, as well as that of two Cemex Spain plants , in Zaragoza and Guadalajara respectively, which have obtained a total of 5.8 million euros in aid

Industry | 6/19/2024

Industry will convene a new aid line in September of €140 million within the Decarbonisation PERTE

The objective is to accompany those investment projects with a special driving effect for industrial facilities that can use the best decarbonisation technology in their sectors. With the call for this new line of aid, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism advances its commitment to promoting industrial decarbonisation. The provisional approval of the first 19 projects of line 1 of PERTE Decarbonisation worth 96 million euros was made public recently. For the last five years, the Government has supported the electro-intensive and gas-intensive sector with 1,470 million euros, including aid for CO2, the charge compensation programme for electro-intensive consumers, as well as aid for the increase in natural gas prices in 2023.

Tourism | 6/18/2024

The number of international air passengers is close to 10 million in May, a year on year growth of 13%

Spain receives 38.7 million passengers in the first five months of 2024, 13.6% more than in the same period of 2023. In May, the strong growth of far off markets such as China, Canada and Chile were a particular highlight, with increases of more than 35%. Minister Hereu positively values ??“the notable increase in market diversification, which has turned Spain into a leading destination that goes beyond the European sphere to increasingly be a reference for travellers from all over the globe.”

Tourism | 6/17/2024

Employment in the tourism sector has increased 5% compared to a year ago, and is bordering 3 million affiliates in the month of May

Social Security affiliates in tourism accounted for 13.6% of the total affiliates in the national economy in May. Affiliates linked to tourism activities increased in absolute terms by 138,316 registered workers. Among the Autonomous Communities, the interannual increases of Andalusia and the Canary Islands stand out, both growing by 5.7%, as well as the Community of Madrid, which had an increase of 5%.

Tourism | 6/12/2024

Hereu recalls that the Government has allocated 275 million euros for sustainable projects to transform and modernise the Canarian tourism sector.

The Minister of Industry and Tourism defends “the need to govern tourism so that it generates wealth and social well-being, as well as being compatible at the same time with coexistence in cities”” Hereu has listed the Government's policies on tourism in Congress and has recalled that "tourism in Spain has been a success story that must be preserved, while continuing to work on it at in order to lead its transformation." The minister has recalled that a digital platform is being completed which will enable Autonomous Communities to detect unauthorised tourist accommodation, in order to carry out improved market regulation.

Industry | 6/11/2024

Elisa Rodríguez Ortiz, appointed Head of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM)

Until now, Rodríguez has served as head of the support unit for the OEPM Management, as well as being Spain's representative before the World Industrial Property Organisation. “We will continue to move towards a more people-focused, sustainable, digital, innovative, transparent and effective OEPM,” she stated.

Tourism | 6/11/2024

Hereu: “We will present the roadmap of the Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2030 at the next Spanish Tourism Council”

Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism, opened the meeting of the UN Tourism Executive Council in Barcelona together with the mayor of the city, Jaume Collboni, and the Secretary General of UN Tourism, Zurab Pololikashvili. The Government is completing a tool that organises the tourism offer at a national level and responds to citizens' demands regarding coexistence between residents and tourists. The minister has called for everyone to work together – public administrations, UNTourism and the private sector – to create a more humane, sustainable and quality tourism model.

Industry | 6/10/2024

Hereu opens the Barcelona Tourism Convention and announces €96 million in funding for the digital transformation of the tourism sector

Of the €96 million, €33 million will be allocated to councils, inter-island councils and island councils, €57 million to other local organisations, and €6 million to single-province autonomous communities. Jordi Hereu: "Spain must lead the triple transformation of the tourism model: social, economic and environmental". Among the new features is the opportunity for single-province autonomous communities to apply for grants, as well as the extension of the project implementation deadline until June 2026.

Industry | 6/10/2024

The Ministry of Industry has released for public consultation the framework for the PERTE Agroalimentario II, which is backed by €100 million in funding 

This time, the allocation process will follow a simple application procedure, ensuring faster disbursement of funds. The aid will be directed towards individual projects. The aim of this new line of aid is to continue to support the transformation, sustainability and modernisation of the industry in this sector. The first edition of PERTE Agro allocated 182 million euros, reaching more than 286 primary projects from 224 companies, with initiatives in 14 autonomous communities.

Tourism | 6/6/2024

The Official State Gazette publishes the call for grants endowed with €96 million for tourist destinations to deploy Smart Destination Platforms.

The project execution deadline is extended until June 2026. Single-province autonomous communities may apply for grants up to €6 million.

Tourism | 6/4/2024

Execution periods have been extended for tourism projects in the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla for maintenance and rehabilitation of historical heritage for tourist use

The aim is to make the requirements more flexible in order to contribute to greater and improved implementation of the goals pursued by subsidies.

The Ministry | 6/4/2024

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism opens its doors to citizens during Open Administration week

The events are part of an initiative promoted by the Alliance for Open Government (Open Gov Week).The aim is to bring the administration closer to the citizen, based on five principles: transparency, accountability, citizen participation, public integrity and collaboration.

Tourism | 6/3/2024

International tourist spending increases by 22.6% in the first four months and reaches €31.5 billion

The arrival of tourists to Spain has exceeded 7.8 million this April, 8.3% more than in the same month last year and monthly spending rises to 9,565 million euros (+13.1%) In regard to the accumulated values of the first four months, the number of tourists is close to 24 million, 14.5% more than a year ago Each tourist spent an average of 1,221 euros in April, 4.4% more than in 2023, and the average spending per day also reflects this increase, reaching 183 euros, an increase of 5.4% year-on-year In the first four months, the communities with the highest accumulated spending were the Canary Islands (8,182 million euros), Catalonia (5,456 million) and Andalusia (4,809 million) Hereu: “The results of the first quarter, the best in the historical series since we have official records, speak of a tourism that revolves around quality as the aspect which makes a difference, with spending at the destination that symbolises the growing involvement of international tourists with a range of modern offers focused on sustainability”

Industry | 5/31/2024

Hereu announced the next call for 31,87 M €to compensate for positions in the energy bill electrointensivas companies

These aids are key to the industrial sector because it improves its competitiveness and reinforces their industrial capacities and employment. The minister has in the economic weight of Tarragona in catalonia as a whole, remain a central pillar of the industry in Spain. Jordi Hereu finished stressing good performance in tourism and has had an impact on the challenge of managing the success to continue to be leaders in this sector

The Ministry | 5/31/2024

International week of june files 3-9 2024

Guided visit to the central database on 6 june to 11 a.m.

Tourism | 5/31/2024

The seats provided for in international flights for june reached 11.7 million, by 12.8 per cent more than a year ago

Comparing the number of seats in june with the data recorded to date equivalent of 2023, continued its good behaviour of the major broadcasting markets: united kingdom (+ 7.8 per cent), germany (+ 7.9 per cent) and italy (+ 16.2 per cent). Hereu: “Seats provided for in international flights are a fundamental reference point to know how to behave tourism in high season, and projections for june, which significantly improve the last year, we suggest a special summer for the sector”.

Tourism | 5/30/2024

The level of satisfaction of international tourists with their holidays in Spain grows by 2.3 points compared to 2022

97% of international tourists who visited Spain in 2023 were “satisfied or very satisfied” with their trip Spain reaches a global destination rating of 4.62 out of 5, exceeding the 2022 survey rating The countries with the highest level of satisfaction in 2023 have been the United Kingdom, the Ibero-American region, Poland and the United States For Jordi Hereu, the conclusions of the International Tourist Satisfaction Survey accurately reflect Spain's leadership as a sustainable, safe and excellent global destination.

Industry | 5/29/2024

The new law of industry and Strategic Autonomy will pick up a reserve to ensure the provision of resources in times of crisis and pandemics

This is a critical list of products and the capacities of national production, which could be mobilized quickly to crisis situations to meet a demand high and unexpected.

Industry | 5/28/2024

Jordi Hereu announced the provisional adoption of the first 19 projects in the LOSS of Decarbonisation of 96 M €

The projects are those of the companies, ACOR BIOTERMICA VILLANUEVA, meat and vegetables, IRAQI CEMENT VEGUÍN TUDELA, CEMEX (2), beer MAHOU, CITRICOS OF EDERFIL ANDARAX, BECKER KOOP, ENCE, ENSO ESCO (2), FERROGLOBE SPAIN METALS, GESTAMP (2), industries PELETERAS RESONAC GRAPHITE, SPAIN, SOLVAY QUÍMICA and ZUKAN. The resolutions adopted will involve an investment of over $307 million euros.

Industry | 5/24/2024

The Government publishes the call for aid to the PERTE VEC III battery line endowed with €300 million

This call for aid is aimed at encouraging investment in industrial production capacity of batteries for electric vehicles, their essential components as well as the production or recovery of necessary fundamental raw materials. In order to qualify for this aid, a deadline for submitting applications will begin on 17 June. It is expected that in the coming weeks the PERTE VECIII value chain will be convened, endowed with 200 million euros. In total, the third edition of the PERTE for electric and connected vehicles will have 500 million euros at its disposal.

Industry | 5/23/2024

Hereu announces that the call for the PERTE VEC III battery line will be published tomorrow

The Minister of Industry and Tourism recalled that 7 companies from Aragon have presented themselves in the call for line 1 of the PERTE for Decarbonisation. The Government has allocated more than 109 million euros to Aragonese industries in aid for electro-intensive consumers.

Industry | 5/21/2024

Jordi Hereu invites Chery to appear at PERTE VEC III for the development of their investments in Spain

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has reiterated the Government's commitment to decarbonisation as well as to the commitment to the electrification of mobility Industry will call for more than 1,700 billion euros between the third and fourth calls of the PERTE VEC, which the automobile sector will be able to opt for in order to achieve the goal of connected and sustainable mobility

Industry | 5/17/2024

Hereu and Barbón agree on the need for a regulation of strategic projects to ensure that investments in Asturias

Ambos han abordado la situación de Arcelor, y han coincidido en que la planta de reducción directa de mineral de hierro (DRI) que ha anunciado la empresa en Asturias, es un proyecto estratégico y desde el Gobierno se mantiene contacto permanente con la empresa para garantizar su viabilidad. El Ministerio de Industria está en contacto Saint-Gobain para anclar su futuro en España, ya que la multinacional francesa tiene líneas de producción en Asturias y en Cataluña. El objetivo del Gobierno es garantizar el mínimo impacto social para la plantilla. Se han presentado 11 proyectos asturianos a la primera convocatoria del PERTE de Descarbonización con una inversión total de más de 500 millones de euros. Estos proyectos conseguirían una reducción de emisiones de más de 1 millón de toneladas de CO2.

Tourism | 5/16/2024

Employment in the tourism sector exceeds 2.8 M affiliated in april, following an increase of 3.1 per cent compared to the same month of 2023

Social Security affiliates in tourism accounted for 13.3% of the total affiliates in the national economy in April. Members linked to tourism activities increased by 84,591 in the month of April, reaching 2,805,487 employed workers. The Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands are the Autonomous Communities that experienced the greatest increase in relative terms: 5.5% and 4.7% more, respectively. In absolute variation, the greatest increase occurred in the Community of Madrid.

Industry | 5/14/2024

Industry attaches 65.4 M €LOSS of Chip two spanish companies to support projects microelectronics

These are projects that take place companies Semidynamics (38,58 million euros), and KDPOF (26,82 million euros), which will be a total investment of eur 124 million. Subsidies will allow these two spanish companies to participate in the ‘ Important Project of common interest ’ of Microelectronics and communication technologies (IPCEI ME-TC). In the IPCEI are 14 states that will bring up to €8.1 billion of public financing for development of 68 individual projects carried out by 56 companies.

Industry | 5/10/2024

Industry publishes on its website the 15 new projects approved in the line B of the LOSS VEC II with a total of 75.7 M €

Among the beneficiaries, stresses the Stellantis Vigo, who has obtained 29.2 million euros. Another company worthy of note is that it has obtained Gestamp 34.1 million euros distributed in different plants in spain. To date of closure of the convening, on 15 september, have received a total of 138 applications with a budget set of more than eur 2.7 billion, requesting 1.211 billion from loans and grants.

Tourism | 5/9/2024

Ainsa, Sos del Rey Católico, Cudillero, Mura, Pals and Casares will compete for the UN Tourism 2024 Best Tourism Villages recognition

This distinction evaluates nine thematic areas among which sustainability is a standout in its triple aspect: environmental, economic and social

Tourism | 5/9/2024

The number of workers employed in the tourism sector has increased by 7.7% compared to a year ago, surpassing 2.75 million.

For this first quarter of 2024, there are 197,630 more employees in tourism activities than in the same quarter for 2023 24.8% of the new jobs generated in our country are related to tourism-linked activities Salaried employees in the tourism sector with permanent contracts have increased by 10.7%, the eleventh consecutive increase The temporary employment rate in the tourism sector was 14.7%, lower than that of the first quarter of last year, which was 16.9%.

Industry | 5/8/2024

Jordi Hereu advances that 15 new PERTE VEC II projects have been approved for €76 million, including Stellantis Vigo and Gestamp

Next week, Industry will launch the third PERTE VEC call for the battery line with an allocation of €300 million. The minister stated that the Government will approve the new Industry and Strategic Autonomy Act this coming July. Tourism employment figures in the Working Population Survey for the first quarter of the year indicate that there were almost 200,000 more employees in the tourism sector than last year.

Industry | 5/7/2024

Industry convened by the VI edition of the national awards Industry Connected 4.0

The deadline for the nomination expires on 18 june at 18:00 hours. The awards are convened in two modes: a large private enterprises and Smes.

Tourism | 5/6/2024

Rosario Sánchez Grau sworn in as Secretary of State for Tourism

Jordi Hereu: "With her incorporation into our team, we'll keep pushing for the sustainable transformation of the sector, doubling down on Spain's leadership in tourism." Rosario Sánchez Grau served as the Government Delegate in the Balearic Islands and as the Minister of Finance and Foreign Relations for the Government of the Balearic Islands during the 2019-2023 term.

Industry | 5/3/2024

Jordi Hereu visit the factory of the group Teresa Carles Flax Kale in Bell-lloc d ’ Urgell (Lleida)

The company leridana of healthy food has obtained 4.3 million euros in the first call for the Loss. The minister of industry and tourism recalls that Lleida is one of the epicentres of the food industry, a strategic industry is undergoing transformation, which caused through.

Tourism | 5/3/2024

The spending of international tourists is growing by 27.2 per cent in the first quarter and the number of visitors increases 17.7%

The influx of tourists to Spain over 6 million in march, 21 per cent more than the same month last year, and expenditure amounts to 8.652 million euros in the same month Every tourist spent an average of €1,363 in march, 7.3 per cent more than in 2023, and spending a day also reflects this increase, reaching 180 euros, an increase of 5.4% Hereu: “The first quarter of the year, traditionally designed as the low season, has proved to be the best of our history, with a surge in destination spending international tourists expresses climate of tourist model”.

Industry | 4/30/2024

The Government creates the state observatory Private Defaults

On a yearly basis, the observatory will prepare a report on the status of payment periods which will be presented and approved in the state council for Smes. It is estimated that the rule will have a positive impact on the economy and especially in smes, as well as on competition. The number of companies affected by the rule is estimated at 32,500.

Tourism | 4/30/2024

The seats provided for in international flights to reach 11.3 million may, 13 per cent a year ago

Comparing the number of seats in may with the data recorded to date equivalent of 2023, continued its good behaviour of the major broadcasting markets: united kingdom (+ 8%), germany (+ 13.7 per cent) and italy (+ 13.5 per cent). Hereu: “the statistics planned for may seats gives us a hint of very important how this will entail the international tourism fair in the official launch of the high season, with a substantial increase in air traffic, which for this very month presents values still better than in 2023”.

Industry | 4/29/2024

Rebeca Torró: “The Government is going to make the most out of every euro of European funds to reindustrialise Spain ”

For the State Secretary for Industry, the future of the Spanish economy involves strengthening the industrial fabric, accelerating the energy transition, the decarbonising processes, going for digitalisation and promoting our strategic autonomy. Rebeca Torró assures that the 8 billion euro budget managed by her department to reindustrialise Spain "will be distributed to strategic and transformative sectors, seeking a balance between social and territorial cohesion as well as the industrial reality of this country." Rebeca Torró emphasises that “the efficient management of European funds provides us with the opportunity to increase the competitiveness of our productive sectors as well as to lead the fourth industrial revolution”

Tourism | 4/29/2024

Spain once again positions itself as one of the favourite destinations for international tourists for the summer of 2024

Turespaña publishes the Summer Trend Reports of the main 25 markets that send tourism to Spain with data and analysis that anticipate the tourism trends of these markets Hereu: “Trends for summer invite optimism, while trying to avoid complacency. After a great winter season, not a low one, we hope to complete a second half of the year that equals and even exceeds that of 2023.” The indicators for the main tourist issuing markets such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy are showing signs of a good performance for the summer months. The increase in Spain-China connectivity for the 2024 summer season, +49.8%, is the most significant growth among competing destinations

Industry | 4/26/2024

Jordi Hereu visits the Reig Jofre pharmaceutical plant in Sant Joan Despí

This company is one of the 17 firms selected by Europe to guarantee essential drugs.  Among the facilities that the minister has visited, the new injectables plant is a particular standout for being one of the most advanced in Europe regarding pharmaceutical production.

Industry | 4/25/2024

Jordi Hereu moves that the third convening of the LOSS VEC, with 500 m €, will be launched next may

The ministry of industry and tourism has made available to the projects presented at the two calls of the LOSS VEC almost eur 1.7 million, of which eur 270 million went to projects related to the heavy vehicle. Hereu has reiterated the government's commitment to the decarbonisation and support for the electrification of the carriage of goods by road. After two years of implementation of the Plan Moves of Heavy Vehicle were 6 electric trucks to enrol in 2019 to 302 vehicles last year.

Industry | 4/24/2024

Hereu announces that the future Industry Law will regulate the necessary mechanisms to ensure the supply of strategic resources such as healthcare

The minister stresses that Spain is committed to specific European financing that ensures the production capacity and distribution of strategic resources. The Alliance will function as a consultative mechanism to determine priorities for action as well as for proposing solutions that will strengthen the supply of medicine in the EU. Spain has been fully committed to creating this partnership and will help boost industrial revitalisation within the EU.

Industry | 4/24/2024

The ministry of Industry and Tourism certifies 1,000 startups in less than a year

This is a milestone in the history of the entrepreneurship that improves the legal security offered to innovative companies. Borja Cabezón, Managing Director of ENISA: “Having reached this figure in such a short time is a collective success for the image of Spain as a leading country in entrepreneurship.”. This is a pioneering certification process in Europe, which is likewise a simple, fast and free process.

The Ministry | 4/23/2024

The Government reinforces the structure of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism for the management of its programs and powers

The State Secretariat for Industry is created, a historic demand from the industrial sectors, which directly assumes the management of the PERTE for Electric and Connected Vehicles. The PERTE Agro and Naval commissioners remain. In the Tourism area, a new General Directorate of Tourism Policies is created to strengthen management and coordinate actions in the department.

Industry | 4/23/2024

The PERTE line 1 of industrial decarbonisation receives 144 projects worth €3 billion

The food industry, the manufacturing of non-metallic mineral products and metallurgy sectors are the sectors that have presented the most projects. Catalonia, the Basque Country, the Valencian Community, Asturias and Andalusia are the communities with the most applications for aid.

Tourism | 4/18/2024

Spain welcomes almost 20 million international air passengers in the first quarter, 16% more than in 2023

The number of international air passengers is over 7.6 million in the month of March, 16.8% more than a year ago. This month, the notable growth in Poland (80.4%), Germany (22.2%), Switzerland (21.4%) and Italy (21.2%) stands out. Hereu: “The significant growth figures for air passengers in the first quarter, which include Easter, are a symptom not only of the good health of our tourism, but also of the unstoppable process of deseasonalisation of arrival flows and the end of the distinction between low season and high season that have been historically a main characteristic of this industry”.

Tourism | 4/17/2024

Employment in the tourism sector increased by 6.1% in March compared to the same month in 2023, surpassing 2.7 million contributors.

Social Security contributors in tourism accounted for 13.1% of the total contributors in the national economy in March. Salaried workers in the tourism sector increased by 7.1% this March, now representing 81.8% of the total. Balearic Islands once again experienced the largest relative increase among autonomous communities, with a 10.5% rise.

Tourism | 4/16/2024

The Filloa Festival of Lestedo (A Coruña) has been declared a National Tourist Interest Festival.

This is the ninth popular celebration to receive this recognition in the autonomous community of Galicia.

Tourism | 4/16/2024

The government appoints Rosario Sánchez Grau as Secretary of State for Tourism.

Sánchez Grau has held the position of Government Delegate in the Balearic Islands, and during the 2019-2023 legislative term, she was Minister of Finance and Foreign Relations for the Government of the Balearic Islands.

Industry | 4/12/2024

Jordi Hereu announces that the second call for proposals for the Agro PERTE will be endowed with 300 million euros.

As a novelty of this new call, the criteria will be relaxed to facilitate access to financing for more SMEs.The first call for proposals for the Agro PERTE awarded 182 million euros in grants, of which 5.8 million correspond to eight companies from Castilla-La Mancha.The government attaches absolute importance to the agri-food sector, which works daily to ensure the supply of essential products and food security, promoting reindustrialization in all autonomous communities.

Industry | 4/9/2024

Jordi Hereu supports public-private collaboration for the naval sector through PYMAR

According to the activity report of the naval construction sector in Spain, the order book reached 48 ships by the end of 2023, with a total value of 1.722 billion euros. The Naval PERTE has awarded 81 million euros among 65 projects involving 107 companies.

Industry | 4/9/2024

Spain will launch a 40-million-euro aid program for the fishing and aquaculture processing sector.

The aid, funded by the Recovery Plan, will have a limit of 2.5 million euros per year and per company, limited to 50% of the costs eligible for subsidies Spain is the leading producer of canned fish and seafood in the European Union and the second worldwide, with 1.744 billion euros in 2021. The canning industry generates around 26,000 direct jobs in Spain and represents 5.5% of the Spanish food industry.

Tourism | 4/4/2024

The Parador de Ibiza faces the last phase of the works for its next opening

The establishment will have 66 rooms and will be number 100 in the Paradores de Turismo network The total investment, between the renovation works and the conditioning works, will amount to more than 27 million euros. With this new opening, the network of Paradores de Turismo will now be present in all the autonomous communities

Industry | 4/4/2024

Industry has already paid more than 4.5 billion euros from the PRTR funds, 70% of the grants awarded.

Minister Jordi Hereu highlights that the Next Generation Funds enable the creation of new and improved industrial policy instruments to lead reindustrialization. The PERTEs (Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation) help attract large investment projects to different autonomous communities and progress towards a more balanced economic model with greater social and territorial cohesion. The 123 industrial projects submitted so far to the Decarbonization PERTE propose a reduction of 5.18 million tons of CO2 emissions each year.

Tourism | 4/2/2024

International tourist spending increased by 25.8% in February compared to the same month in 2023.

Tourist arrivals in Spain reached 5 million in February, a 15.9% increase compared to the same month last year, with spending amounting to 6.747 billion euros in the same month. Each tourist spent an average of 1,347 euros in February, marking an 8.5% increase compared to 2023, while daily spending also saw a rise, reaching 173 euros, reflecting a 5.8% year-on-year increase. Hereu: “In Spain, the off-peak tourist season is now resembling a period of expansion, indicating the smoothing out of arrival patterns. This has positive implications for tourist spending and employment quality, which are less susceptible to seasonal fluctuations."

Tourism | 3/27/2024

The spending of foreign tourists visiting Spain will grow by 25% in the first quarter, up to 32,000 million

Hereu: “The figures for 2023, both in tourist arrivals and in spending at the destination, have been historic and the forecasts we have also predict a record 2024.” The planned seats on international flights for the month of April reach 10.4 million, 11.4% more than a year ago. Comparing the forecasts for the number of seats in April with the data recorded on the equivalent date of 2023, the good performance of the main issuing markets continues: United Kingdom (+8.4%), Germany (+7.1%) , Italy (+16.9%) and France (+6.4%).

Industry | 3/22/2024

Stellantis (Figueruelas), Robert Bosch and Benteler, new projects approved by Industry within the B line of the PERTE VEC II

With this new provisionStellantisFigueruelas has obtained 54.4 million euros of funding for 8 projects for the development of innovation processes geared towards the manufacturing of electric vehicles in the area of ??bodywork, technological solutions in painting and assembly. Industry has already granted StellantisFigueruelas a total of 113.5 million euros between both calls. Benteler obtains 341,964 euros for a project linked to the manufacturing of a new axle for electric vehicles. Bosch obtains 1.2 million euros for the development of two projects related to the application of power modules in the manufacturing of parts and components, as well as in research and development processes of prototypes for electric motor components.

The Ministry | 3/21/2024

The EPO has published the statistical data corresponding to the 2023 Patent Index

The European Patent Office (EPO) has published the statistical data corresponding to the Patent Index 2023, which includes the number of European patent applications filed in said office during the past year.

Tourism | 3/21/2024

Nearly a thousand companies have requested aid from the Last Mile call for the digitalization of the tourism sector

Catalonia, Madrid and Andalusia are the autonomous communities where the most companies have requested aid 805 projects have been presented for which 152 million euros have been requested

Tourism | 3/18/2024

The number of international air passengers increased by 18.1% in February, surpassing 6 million already.

Between January and February, Spain has welcomed 12.3 million international passengers, registering a significant increase of 15.5% compared to the first two months of 2023. February highlights notable growth from Poland (84.8%), Ireland (27.3%), Switzerland (24.2%), and Italy (21.4%). Hereu stated, "Any growth in absolute figures is good news, and we should add other variables such as the quality of our destinations, increasingly appreciated, which places us at the forefront of international tourists' preferences."

The Ministry | 3/15/2024

The government will extend the subsidies for the PERTE VEC III to 500 million euros, which is 200 million more than originally planned.

Jordi Hereu offers collaboration to autonomous communities (CC.AA.) and City Halls to advance in the reindustrialisation and transformation of Spain's tourism sector. Of the nearly 4.5 billion euros in grants from the first part of the Recovery Plan in industry and tourism, 56% has already been transferred to autonomous communities and local entities. The minister announces the transformation of SEPIDES into a State Business Entity to manage the new calls for PERTE under the Addendum in 2024. For the government, the future model of tourism in Spain revolves around higher quality, reducing seasonality, diversification, and creating more qualified employment in the tourism sector. Hereu has expressed his willingness to finalize the Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2030, a document that will be discussed in the Spanish Tourism Council.

Tourism | 3/15/2024

Tourism employment increases by 4.9% in February compared to the same month in 2023.

Social Security contributors in the tourism sector reach nearly 2.6 million, accounting for 12.5% of the total contributors in the national economy. Salaried workers in the tourism sector increased by 5.8% this February compared to a year ago, while self-employed workers increased by 1.2%. The Balearic Islands are the autonomous community experiencing the highest year-on-year increase in relative terms: up by 9.5%.

Tourism | 3/14/2024

The XVI SICTED Forum has brought together more than 150 professionals from the tourism sector in Córdoba

The destinations of Málaga, Murcia, Mallorca and Valencia, among others, have shared their good practices in terms of sustainability

Tourism | 3/13/2024

Hereu reports that tourism employment grows by almost 5% in February to almost 2.6 million workers

The minister highlights the rise in quality tourism employment, which has been growing uninterruptedly since June 2021, with a reduction in temporary employment rates and a greater number of employees Spain will receive 14.5 million international tourists between March and April, a period that includes Holy Week and Easter, almost 2 million more tourists than in the same period in 2023. Forecasts indicate that in these two months of 2024, tourist spending will be around 19,000 million euros, 3,700 million more than in the same months of the previous year

Industry | 3/12/2024

Hereu recalls the government's firm commitment to driving the transformation of the automotive sector

Companies based in the Basque Country such as Mercedes Benz, Irízar, Sapa, Fagor, or Basquevolt, have received more than 291 million euros from the VEC PERTE in its various calls.The minister has invited Michelin to present projects in the upcoming calls for the VEC PERTE and decarbonization PERTE.

Industry | 3/7/2024

Jordi Hereu underscores in Europe Spain's strong dedication to combating corporate delinquency, which weighs heavily on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism will create a State Observatory of Private Delinquency where companies that fail to meet payment deadlines to their suppliers will be published annually.For the Spanish government, it’s necessary that in reducing the payment term to 30 days, the particularities of each sector are taken into account to avoid unintended effects.Delinquency reduces the competitiveness of companies, as it increases financing costs and causes them to lose attractive business or investment opportunities.

Tourism | 3/6/2024

The Secretary of State for Tourism meets with Spanish companies participating in the Travel Tech Solutions at the ITB Berlin.

The attending companies offer solutions related to reservation management, sales channels, hotel management, multimedia platforms, or travel planners.

Industry | 3/6/2024

The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) calls for the Awards for the Best Inventions Protected by Industrial Property Rights.

For the third consecutive year, these awards will recognize the best patents and utility models granted in 2022.The call will be open until April 5, 2024, and applications can be submitted to its six categories, which include recognitions for women inventors and young inventors. The awards have a monetary value of 4,000 euros for patents and 2,500 euros for utility models.

Tourism | 3/5/2024

Hereu predicts a historic Holy Week for tourism and a record in tourist spending

Forecasts indicate that in the months of March and April 2024, tourist spending will be around 19,000 million euros, 3,700 million more than in the same months of the previous year. Spain will receive 14.5 million tourists in March and April of this year, 2 million more than in the same period of 2023. Germany is the third largest source market for tourists to Spain and the second in spending. In 2023, 10.8 million German tourists visited our country, 10.6% more than in 2022, and they spent 12.6% more. The ITB fair is one of the fundamental events in the tourism sector along with Fitur and the World Travel Market in London. This year, Spain has approximately 300 exhibitors among hotels, chains, agencies and other companies in the sector.

Tourism | 3/4/2024

The amount spent by international tourists in Spain grows by 25.5% in January compared to the same month in 2023

The influx of tourists to Spain reaches 4.8 million in January, 15.3% more than the same month last year, and expenditure amounts to 6,550 billion at the beginning of the year. Every tourist spent an average of 1,374 euros in January, 8.9% more than in 2023, and spending per day also reflects this growth, reaching 158 euros, an increase of 6%. Jordi Hereu: “Continuing growth in the number of tourists, and especially of expenditure, should serve as encouragement to continue helping the sector with policies that improve social, economic and environmental sustainability indexes”.

Industry | 3/1/2024

Industry has granted close to 160 million euros in aid to the industrial sector in Tarragona since 2019

This aid includes the 71.6 million from the PERTEs, as well as other measures to boost the industry and CO2 compensation for electro-intensive companies. The minister values the contribution of PERTE to the industrial sector of Catalonia to advance the modernization, decarbonization and sustainability of the industry. The relevance of the Tarragona petrochemical hub stands out, responsible for 25% of chemical production in Spain and 50% of all of Catalonia. Hereu assures that aid from the CO2 compensation mechanism to reduce the energy bill of electro-intensive companies will increase by 25% in 2024.

Industry | 2/29/2024

Jordi Hereu announces the early resolution of €125 million in aid from the PERTE Chip microelectronics programme and announces that there will be a second call for €200 million.

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has defended the use of Artificial Intelligence in industry and tourism to become more sustainable and competitive.He highlighted the role of ENISA in the certification of start-ups. So far, this entity under the Ministry of Industry and Tourism has certified 849 companies.With regard to tourism, the minister recalled that his department has invested more than 300 million euros in the digitalisation of this sector.

Tourism | 2/29/2024

The Secretary of State for Tourism launches a personalised intelligence system for the destinations of the RedDTI network.

This Tourism Intelligence System for Destinations (TIS Destination) is the first module of the Intelligent Destination Platform (IDP).The TIS Destination structures the data in six categories, ranging from the economy to transport, from sustainability to tourism knowledge.

Tourism | 2/28/2024

Planned international seats for March reach 8.5 million, 13.6% more than a year ago.

Comparing seat forecasts in March with those recorded at the same date in 2023, the main source markets continue to perform well: UK (+7.2%), Germany (+17.3%) and Italy (+21.6%).Hereu: "These figures confirm a good start to the year for the tourism sector, in line with the forecast for arrivals and spending, which bodes a significant improvement in the first four months of the year compared to the already historic figures for 2023".

Industry | 2/22/2024

Industry awards the first 10 tractor projects of line B of the PERTE VEC II with nearly €170 M.

The ten projects provisionally awarded in this first resolution are those of JEMA ENERGY, BASQUEVOLT, IRIZAR, NISSAN, MERCEDES-BENZ, MASATS, MUGAPE, EDSCHA BURGOS and AUTOTECH. In the coming weeks, the rest of the applications submitted in this PERTE VEC II B call will continue to be evaluated until the envelope foreseen is exhausted. Jordi Hereu: "We’re in an important process of transformation of the automotive industry in Spain. We’re the second largest producer in Europe and we want to continue to lead this industry with the electric car.

Tourism | 2/22/2024

Hereu: The new UN TOURISM headquarters is an example of Spain's commitment to lead the transformation of tourism.

The UN TOURISM building, which will occupy a space adjacent to the Palacio de Congresos and will be completed in the first half of 2025, will be a functional headquarters, with an excellent location next to the financial centre and the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.Hereu highlights Spain's global dimension as a tourist destination and the boom in long-haul markets, which place us at the head of the preferences of countries such as the USA, which are characterised by long stays and higher spending.The Minister of Industry and Tourism visits the works accompanied by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosana Morillo, the Director General of Turespaña, Miguel Sanz, and the Secretary General of UN TOURISM, Zurab Pololikashvili.

Tourism | 2/20/2024

Secretary of State Rosana Morillo participates in the informal meeting of European Union tourism ministers

Rosana Morillo proposes a specific EU budget for tourism policy, as well as the creation of the European Tourism Agency and the European Sustainable Tourism Observatory.The Secretary of State expressed her hope that this meeting would be "an opportunity to continue working for a more sustainable and competitive tourism for all Member States”.

Tourism | 2/20/2024

Spain began 2024 with an increase in international air passengers from 12.7% in january last year

Almost 6 million international air passengers in january. Whose of Poland, Ireland, Italy and the US. The diversification of reaches a weight markets close to 30 per cent and an increase of 13.7 per cent in january last year. Jordi Hereu: “Continue to grow in tourists is good, but what is more progress in the challenge of diversification of markets and the quality of tourism, and data from today confirm this trend, which reflects the policies being pushed by the government”.

Tourism | 2/19/2024

Jordi Hereu highlights the role of the hotel and catering industry in the future of a more sustainable and digital tourism

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism considers gastronomy a strategic priority, not only for its enormous value as a tourist attraction, but also for its capacity to combat depopulation of the territory.Hereu reviewed the different lines of aid launched by the Ministry to support the sector, such as the National Plan for Food and Wine Tourism 2022-2023, with 51.4 million euros; the Tourism Sustainability Plans in Destinations, which has mobilised 1,800 million euros; and the training plan in digital skills for workers in the sector, which has distributed 54 million euros.

Industry | 2/16/2024

Industry has granted more than 110 million euros in PERTE aid to the industrial sector in Navarre.

The Minister Jordi Hereu expresses the government's desire to continue supporting the industrial sector in Navarre through the PERTE and other lines of aid.Navarre's automotive companies have received 85.2 million from the PERTE VEC, while aid from the PERTE agri-food sector totals 16.8 million and 8.4 million from the Naval sector.

Industry | 2/16/2024

Industry and UNESID share their commitment to a decarbonised, sustainable steel industry

Jordi Hereu has offered the government's collaboration with the sector to advance in the transformation process of the iron and steel industry, which is strategic for the reindustrialisation of Spain.Spain has 22 plants that produce more than 14.5 million tonnes of steel and recycle more than 10 million tonnes of scrap per year.

Tourism | 2/16/2024

Tourism employment increases 4.8% in January compared to the same month in 2023

Social Security contributors in the tourism sector exceeded 2.5 million and accounted for 12.3% of the total number of contributors in the national economy.The number of salaried workers in the tourism sector increased by 5.7% in January compared to a year ago.

Industry | 2/15/2024

Jordi Hereu expresses the endorsement by the government in the automotive sector, and encourages Galicia to become a reference for the electric vehicle

In the coming days will be the first awards L line B of VEC II individual projects of the value chain of automotive The minister stressed that one of the keys to success of tourism in Spain is to have cities such as Vigo, which from its projects has shown in the world

Industry | 2/14/2024

Jordi Hereu believes that Barcelona is well positioned to become one of the touchstones of new industry in Spain

The minister of industry and tourism has recognised the importance of having such centres for the development of this new industry, as well as achieving one of our priority aims for the Government, which is reindustrialisation

Industry | 2/9/2024

The government has spent €1.7 billion on industrial policy in Galicia in the last five years.

The Minister of Industry and Tourism invites entrepreneurs to go hand in hand with the government in the process of transforming Galician industry. Of the PERTEs announced by Industry, Galicia has obtained 108 million euros, which have reached 212 Galician companies in 89 projects.

Tourism | 2/8/2024

The workers employed in the tourism sector have increased by 2.3% compared to a year ago, surpassing 2.6 million.

The salaried employees in the tourism sector with permanent contracts (83.5%) have increased by 6.2%, marking the tenth consecutive rise.The temporary employment rate in the sector was 16.5%, a figure lower than that of the same period of the previous year, which stood at 18.6%.The unemployment rate in the sector stood at 11.3% in this fourth quarter of 2023, 0.2% lower than the same quarter of the year 2022.The employed individuals associated with activities related to tourism represent 12.6% of the total employment in the Spanish economy.Jordi Hereu said: "The tourism industry is not only growing quantitatively, but also qualitatively, with better jobs linked to the sector, lower temporary employment rates, and a higher number of salaried employees with permanent contracts."

Industry | 2/5/2024

Jordi Hereu announced that have already been submitted over 100 applications to the first call for the LOSS of decarbonisation

The minister has appealed to seize the opportunity to move forward in the industry net zero emission and europe and Spain to exercise leadership in this great transformation. Hereu has stressed that the rules of procedure to bring net zero emission incorporates incentives to improve industrial competitiveness of europe and offers more certainty for investments in clean technologies.

Industry | 2/5/2024

Hereu conveys to CECOT the government's willingness to intensify dialogue to address the challenge of reindustrialization.

Today, the minister visited the headquarters of CECOT in Catalonia, where he emphasized the fundamental role of the industry for the government and announced a joint working agenda to address the industrial challenges of the coming years. Hereu referred to the climate crisis by the drought that affects Catalonia: “it’s time to join forces and appeal to the responsibility of all to establish medium-term strategies to neutralize potential future crises.” Minister Hereu has advocated for the future Industry Act that the government is preparing as a tool that will provide better instruments to solve industrial crises.

Industry | 2/2/2024

Jordi Hereu offers his collaboration to Conseller Roger Torrent to support the transformation and expansion of the industrial fabric in Catalonia.

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has conveyed his interest to the Conseller in maintaining collaboration to ensure that the Catalan industry continues to be an economic driving force throughout Spain. The meeting reviewed various programs of assistance and funding for industry and tourism, such as the PERTE. The Minister has shared with the Conseller the final 2023 tourism figures, with tourist spending exceeding £20.8 billion in Catalonia as a whole.

Tourism | 2/2/2024

International tourist arrivals to Spain in 2023 exceed forecasts and reach 85 million for the first time

Tourist spending last year was 24.7% higher than in 2022 and 18.2% higher than in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Total spending in 2023 amounted to €108.662 billion. Total spending in 2023 amounted to €108.662 billion. International tourist arrivals in 2023 grew to 85,056,528, 18.7% more than in 2022 and 1.9% above 2019, a record year and the pre-pandemic benchmark to date. At the head of the countries with the highest growth in 2023 is the USA, whose nationals visiting Spain have increased by 38.7% over 2022 and by 16.9% over 2019. Jordi Hereu: "The official closing figures for 2023 even improve on the projection we announced at FITUR a few days ago: tourist arrivals and spending at the destination are at record highs, an extraordinary starting point to continue working and improving the quality of our tourism industry in 2024".

Industry | 1/31/2024

Jordi Hereu Positions the Defense Industry as a Vital Element for Spain's Security and Reindustrialisation

The defense industry saw a 4.6% increase in its revenue in 2022, generating over 200,000 high-skilled technical jobs. An industry that allocated more than 12% of its revenue to R&D and exported 50% of its products and services. Over the past few decades, the government has provided over €19.19 billion in financing for key modernisation programmes in the defense industry, such as frigates, submarines, and armored vehicles.

Tourism | 1/31/2024

Scheduled International Flight Seats for February Reach 7.2 Million, a 16.4% Increase Compared to Last Year

Comparing the February seat forecasts with data from the equivalent date in 2023, the main source markets continue to show strong performance: United Kingdom (+12.4%), Germany (+14.8%), and Italy (+22.7%). Jordi Hereu: "This is an excellent forecast, in line with a year that, according to our projections, will continue to set records in both arrivals and, especially, spending, contributing to the enhancement of the quality of our destinations."

The Ministry | 1/29/2024

Jordi Hereu Presents a Comprehensive Pact for the Reindustrialisation of Spain and the Promotion of Sustainable Tourism

There will be a PERTE VEC III, endowed with €300 million, and a PERTE VEC IV, with €1.25 billion. Hereu announces that this year, aid for compensations for CO2 emissions to electro-intensive industries will be increased to €300 million. The minister announces the transformation of ENISA into a public business entity to make it the leading agency for Spanish industrial policy. Jordi Hereu advances that the Industry Law is currently being processed and will provide new instruments for industrial policy, such as Projects of National Strategic Interest, a digital one-stop shop, or a State Industrial Policy Council. For the government, the future model for tourism in Spain revolves around higher quality, seasonality reduction, diversification, and skilled employment in the tourism sector. Turespaña's goal for this year is to increase the visibility of the Spanish tourism brand in those source markets with higher spending capacity.

Industry | 1/26/2024

Jordi Hereu discusses his industrial projects in Spain with the President of Renault

Hereu expressed his support for the Renault Group's industrial projects in Spain and underlined the Government's commitment to the industrial transition to the electric car and to strengthening the automotive industry in our country. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has made available to the automotive sector all the financing instruments available to it, especially PERTE VEC III, which is expected to be launched in the first quarter of this year.

Tourism | 1/26/2024

Minister Jordi Hereu strengthens tourism ties with Latin America at FITUR 2024

Hereu has highlighted the value of these meetings for exchanging experiences and tourism policies with markets that are on the rise and which are a fundamental growth niche in the coming years. Jordi Hereu: "Spain is a preferential partner for sister countries on the other side of the Atlantic, a model to follow in modernisation and policies aimed at transforming tourism". Throughout the three days of the fair, the ministry has held more than 20 bilateral meetings with countries at FITUR 2024.

Industry | 1/24/2024

Industry opens the window to apply for aid under line 1 of PERTE for industrial decarbonization today

Jordi Hereu: "This programme reflects the Government's significant commitment to a greener and more resilient industrial future, highlighting the importance of decarbonisation as a central element in Spain's economic and environmental agenda". The first announcement of line 1 of this PERTE is endowed with 500 million euros in loans and another 500 million euros in grants.

Tourism | 1/23/2024

Hereu points out that the commitment to quality must be the objective of the tourism industry

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has congratulated the tourism sector for its "capacity for resilience and for having fulfilled all the expectations of recovery after the pandemic and the war". Hereu has launched a double message of optimism for 2024 and ambition for the future: "We must not be satisfied, we have many challenges ahead of us until we reach social, economic and environmental sustainability." Hereu has launched a double message of optimism for 2024 and ambition for the future. The 12th Tourism Leadership Forum, organised by Exceltur on the eve of FITUR, this year focused on the promotion of more socially and environmentally responsible tourism.

Tourism | 1/22/2024

Hereu meets with Ryanair and Jet2 to discuss strengthening connectivity as well as their investment and sustainability plans

Hereu: "Strengthening connectivity with Spain is key to boosting the transformation of the sector and the diversification of destinations" Hereu: "Strengthening connectivity with Spain is key to boosting the transformation of the sector and the diversification of destinations. Ryanair presents the airline's 5 billion euro investment plan in Spain to the minister Hereu: "Strengthening connectivity with Spain is key to boosting the transformation of the sector and diversifying destinations" International tourist spending will grow by 18.5%, compared to the same period in 2023, according to forecasts by Turespaña

Tourism | 1/22/2024

Jordi Hereu encourages the continuous building up of an increasingly sustainable and competitive tourism model

Hereu assures that tourism must be an engine of social transformation that generates wealth and qualified employment. The minister highlighted "the resilience of the tourism industry" and pointed out the need to "identify the challenges" in order to "continue to be one of the leaders" in the sector. Hereu highlighted the government's contribution to transforming the sector, which has been able to overcome the successive crises "with solvency".

Tourism | 1/19/2024

Minister Jordi Hereu confirms a record 2023 for tourism: more than 84 million international tourists and 108 billion euros in spending

The projected figures at the end of 2023 mean that Spain will exceed the visits of the pre-pandemic reference year of 2019 by 1%, and the tourist expenditure of the same year by 17.4%. By 2022, the number of visitors will increase by 19%, and tourism expenditure will rise by 23.8%. The first four months of 2024 will break records for tourist arrivals and spending after a record year in which the change of tourism model in Spain has been confirmed. Turespaña forecasts 10.8% more international visitors and 18.5% more spending in the first four months of this year The minister values the "extraordinary performance of the entire tourism sector, which has generated quality employment and expanded the offer of increasingly sustainable, territorialised and attractive destinations for visitors throughout the year." At FITUR 2024 there will be a commitment to strengthening the leadership of the Spanish tourism industry and the promotion of distant markets.

Industry | 1/18/2024

Jordi Hereu highlights the opportunity provided by the PERTE decarbonisation plan to move towards a greener industry

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has presented the first call of line 1 of the PERTE for Industrial Decarbonization, endowed with €1 billion, with the aim of continuing to work for a sustainable Spanish industry. The PERTE foresees a total public investment of 3.17 billion euros, a total investment of up to 11.8 billion euros and the creation of some 8,000 quality jobs.

Tourism | 1/18/2024

Spain welcomes 95 million international air passengers in 2023 and surpasses 2019's record arrivals figure

Spain reaches 6.7 million international air passengers in December, 16% more than in December 2022. Spain is the second most important country in the world in terms of international air passenger arrivals. All markets show an upward trend, with growth (+20%) in Italy, the United States and Poland standing out. These statistics include the total number of international air passengers received in Spain, whether or not they are tourists, and in no case should they be confused with Frontur/Egatur.

Tourism | 1/18/2024

Tourism employment rose by 5.4% in the month of December and 2023 ends with the highest number of employed workers in the historic data series

Those employed in the tourism sector exceeded 2.5 million and accounted for 12.5% of the total number of employed workers in the economy Salaried workers in the tourism sector increased by 6.4% this December and self-employed workers by 1.1% As for the regions, the Canary Islands, Andalusia and La Rioja are the autonomous communities that grew the most in that month Jordi Hereu: "In Spain, temporary employment has fallen and wages have risen, and this shows that in tourism, as in many other sectors, a virtuous circle is taking place whereby we are generating economic prosperity while extending labour rights."

Industry | 1/17/2024

Jordi Hereu highlights the contribution of Agri-Food PERTE to the transformation of the sector

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has highlighted the strategic value of the food and beverage sector in the Spanish economy and underlined its contribution to growth and employment. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism manages Axis 1 of the Agri-Food PERTE, which "will contribute to the modernisation, sustainability and digitalisation of the sector"

Industry | 1/17/2024

Jordi Hereu expresses his interest in continuing to support the transformation of SMEs to PIMEC

The minister discusses the monitoring of payment periods through the State Observatory of Delinquency with employers of small and medium-sized companies in Catalonia, a project that is currently in the public information phase. The Catalan employers' association of small and medium-sized enterprises has offered its collaboration to the Ministry to work together to improve the productivity of SMEs, innovation and digitalisation.

Industry | 1/16/2024

Jordi Hereu shares with FACONAUTO the Government's commitment to continue moving towards connected and sustainable mobility

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has highlighted electrification as an effective measure to contribute to the decarbonisation of the sector Hereu highlighted the closing of car distribution in 2023, with 16% more registrations than in the previous year, and has committed to continue promoting strategies to facilitate access to electric vehicles, such as the MOVES Plan, recently extended to 31 July 2024

Industry | 1/16/2024

Jordi Hereu shares with FACONAUTO the Government's commitment to continue advancing towards connected and sustainable mobility

The Minister of Industry and Tourism has highlighted electrification as an effective measure to contribute to the decarbonization of the sector Hereu has valued the closure of automobile distribution in 2023, with 16% more registrations than the previous year, and has opted to continue promoting strategies to facilitate access to electric vehicles, such as the Moves Plan, recently extended until July 31, 2024

Industry | 1/16/2024

Jordi Hereu conveys to CEPYME the Government's commitment to small and medium-sized businesses

The minister has placed SMEs as the center and engine of the Spanish economy. The meeting discussed the future creation of the State Observatory of Private Delinquency, whose project is currently in the public information phase. Hereu has highlighted the effort made by the Government to ensure that SMEs participate in the different PERTEs launched by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

Industry | 1/12/2024

Industry awards 27.7 M€ to 11 projects related to hybrid, electric battery and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

Of the total number of projects, 8 correspond to experimental developments and 3 to industrial research activities. Jordi Hereu: "This line is the perfect complement to the PERTE VEC and proof that the Government is once again fulfilling its commitments by providing a solution to one of the major demands of the automotive sector"

Tourism | 1/12/2024

Minister Jordi Hereu and UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, hold a first meeting in Madrid

Both leaders have noted the full recovery of the tourism industry and the good forecasts for 2024. The minister highlights Spain's leading position in world tourism and shares the lines of work in order to advance in the sustainability, digitalisation and competitiveness of the sector.

Tourism | 1/11/2024

Jordi Hereu and Exceltur agree to boost public-private collaboration to continue transforming the tourism industry

Hereu was grateful for the "willingness for dialogue and constant collaboration" of the Spanish tourism business sector, which he defines as an "indispensable actor" to implement changes in areas such as social sustainability and digitalisation. Exceltur stressed the need to continue supporting the sector through European funds and the Recovery Plan.

Industry | 1/11/2024

The Ministry of Industry and the Alliance pledge to continue working to strengthen the competitiveness and development of Spanish industry

Hereu stressed the Government's commitment to reindustrialisation and to strengthening Spanish industry. The Alliance put forward a series of proposals to improve competitiveness in areas such as energy, strategic autonomy and climate neutrality, among others.

Industry | 1/10/2024

Jordi Hereu stresses the importance of the components sector to the competitiveness of the automotive industry

The meeting is part of the round of contacts with business and trade union organisations from the Spanish industry. Hereu conveyed to Francisco J. Riberas the Government's plan to launch a new round of PERTE VEC during the first quarter of 2024 to continue attracting battery production and electric vehicle value chain projects.

Industry | 1/10/2024

Jordi Hereu stresses that Spain is one of the most dynamic and appealing economies for foreign investment

Hereu said that foreign investment in Spain reached 21 billion euro in the first nine months of 2023, 7% more than the average for the 2018-2022 period. The Minister of Industry assured attendees that the government is fully committed to re-industrialisation, modernisation and structural reforms in the Spanish economy. The business forum, held today and tomorrow in Madrid, will bring together major international investors and executives from more than 40 publicly traded companies and public administrations.

Tourism | 1/9/2024

Jordi Hereu shares with the CEOE his will to continue to support the transformation of the tourism sector

The Minister lauded the full recovery of the sector after the pandemic, the record-setting data from 2023 and “good prospects for 2024". Representatives from the CEOE have asked the Ministry of Industry and Tourism to accelerate the transformation of the tourism sector to address the dual green and digital challenge. Hereu shared with the CEOE representatives the lines of aid that the Ministry of Industry and Tourism has provided to advance the sector's sustainability, digitisation and competitiveness through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (RTRP), which has allocated a total of €3.4 billion.

Tourism | 1/5/2024

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism will provide 96 million euros in funding to digitise tourist destinations

The money will be used to deploy smart platforms that will contribute to the digital transformation of the tourism sector. The aim is to improve destination management, relationships with tourists and sustainability based on innovative solutions. Of the total aid amount, 38 million euros will be allocated to provincial, regional and island councils and 58 million euros to the rest of the local authorities.

Tourism | 1/4/2024

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism earmarks 104 million euros to digitise tourism companies

This is the second call for aid for developing and implementing innovative technological projects. As a novelty compared to the 2021 call, it facilitates SMEs' access to financing, allowing more companies to benefit from the aid. In addition to groups of companies, non-profit associations, federations and confederations in the tourism sector may also apply.

Tourism | 1/3/2024

Tourist arrivals increase to over 5 million in November, 18.6 per cent more than the same month in 2022

Tourist expenditure is 23.6 per cent higher than a year ago and 31.4 per cent higher compared to November 2019. Accumulated up to November, expenditure exceeds 100 billion euros. During the first eleven months of 2023, tourist arrivals were 0.8% higher than the figures achieved before the pandemic and 18.2 per cent higher than the accumulated figure for 2022: 79.8 million. Jordi Hereu: “Tourist arrivals and expenditure have accelerated in recent months, which has a positive impact on the economy, both in terms of GDP and employment”.

Tourism | 1/3/2024

La llegada de turistas a España supera en noviembre los 5 millones, un 18,6% más que en el mismo mes de 2022

El gasto turístico se sitúa un 23,6% por encima del de hace un año y un 31,4% respecto a noviembre de 2019. En el acumulado hasta noviembre, el gasto rebasa los 100.000 millones de euros. Durante los once primeros meses de 2023, la llegada de turistas se sitúa un 0,8% por encima de las cifras prepandemia y un 18,2% por encima del acumulado de 2022: 79,8 millones. Jordi Hereu: “La llegada de turistas y el gasto en destino se han acelerado en los últimos meses, lo que repercute de forma positiva en la economía, tanto en el PIB como en el empleo”.

Tourism | 12/29/2023

The Ministry and communities have agreed the distribution of €183 million in aid to social sustainability, energy efficiency and digitisation of the tourism sector

Jordi Hereu has stressed “the importance of the agreements made and the climate of cooperation with the autonomous communities to further strengthen the tourism sector”. He has approved the allocation of €119 million to finance energy efficiency projects by tourism enterprises, €54 million for digital skills and €10 million to social sustainability.

Tourism | 12/29/2023

The number of seats forecasted for international flights during the month of January reach 7.4 million, 13 per cent more than a year ago

Comparing the number of seats forecasted for January 2024 with the data recorded up to the same date in 2023, the positive trend for the major countries of origin continues for the United kingdom (+ 5.9 per cent), Germany (+ 12.2 per cent) and Italy (+ 20.7 per cent). Jordi Hereu: “This forecast confirms the strength of tourism in Spain, with data that herald an excellent year in 2024, as was the case in 2023, during which we have already exceeded pre-pandemia figures”.

Industry | 12/28/2023

Industry publishes the first PERTE for the Industrial Decarbonisation call for proposals

The call for proposals is endowed with 1 billion euros and represents an important boost to the decarbonisation of the Spanish manufacturing industry. Jordi Hereu: “Government fulfils commitment to support industry in its transition to more environmentally friendly models and processes and contribute to the goal of climate neutrality by 2050”.

Industry | 12/22/2023

Industry publishes the final decision of the Naval PERTE that will distribute almost €81 M among more than 107 companies

The purpose of the Naval PERTE is to modernize the sector and increase its competitiveness. Jordi Hereu “With the help of this PERTE we intend to improve the quality of employment and the competitiveness of this sector. We are committed to quality, qualifications and digitization to achieve full modernization in shipbuilding”.

Industry | 12/22/2023

Jordi Hereu explains the government's commitment to the industrial sector to CEOE

The minister advocated for reindustrialización as the main objective of this stage to boost productive capacities in the country and to make progress with strategic autonomy. The representatives of CEOE learned of the minister's willingness to cooperate as he offered to work together through the Committee on Industry and Environmental Transition CEOE.

Industry | 12/19/2023

Jordi Hereu explained the government's commitment to the reindustrialization of Spain to the secretary-general of CCOO-Industry

The minister emphasized the government's commitment to ready the country for a more innovative, sustainable and competitive industrial future.

Industry | 12/19/2023

Jordi Hereu conveyed to Stellantis the support from Spanish Industry to its industrial projects in Spain, which include the Antares Project in Figueruelas

Hereu has indicated that the Antares Project (Figueruelas Plant) is strategic for continued progress towards the goal of industrialisation and to convert Spain into a hub for sustainable mobility. So far, Stellantis has already received more than 59 million euros under the PERTE VEC II Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation to implement the Antares Project in Figueruelas.

Industry | 12/19/2023

Industry awards €183.6 M to 292,233 businesses to strengthen the agri-industrial sector

The objective of the PERTE is to drive modernization, sustainability and digital processing in the agricultural sector. Catalonia, Valencia, and Galicia are the autonomous communities that receive the most aid. Jordi Hereu “To improve competitiveness and sustainability in the food industry, there is a need to invest in innovation in both new foods and processes, and improving food security, and this PERTE will help them to achieve this”.

Industry | 12/18/2023

Together with the Secretary-General of UGT-FICA workers trade union, Jordi Hereu commits to continue to work together for stability in industrial sector employment

The meeting is part of the round of contacts with business and union organisations in Spanish industry, which Hereu started last week with the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers (ANFAC). Up to October, the number of Social Security contributors in the industrial sector stood at 2,369,064 people. This figure is 1.8% higher than the previous year.

Tourism | 12/18/2023

Spain welcomed 88.4 million international passengers up to November, an 18.2% increase over the same period in 2022

In November, Spain reached 6.2 million international air passengers, 15.8% more than in November 2022. All markets are showing an upward trend and highlight the increase (+ 20%) from Italy and the United States. Jordi Hereu: "The increase in the arrival of travellers beyond what was considered to be the high season is great news for deseasonalising our tourism, which is also seeing how destinations are diversifying and more autonomous communities are participating in the rise of increasingly sustainable destinations."

Tourism | 12/18/2023

Tourism employment increases in November by 5.1% compared to the same month in 2022

Social Security contributors in the tourism sector reached 2.5 million and accounted for 12.5% of all contributors in the economy. Salaried employees in the tourism sector increased by 6.1% this November compared to a year ago. Jordi Hereu: "Tourism employment has outpaced the variations of the so-called 'low season', which indicates that the objective of seasonally adjusting the sector is working".

Industry | 12/15/2023

Jordi Hereu qualifies the protection of industrial property as a strategic approach and security for investment and competitiveness

In 2022, the Spanish Patents and Trademark Bureau, under the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, received more than 45,000 national trade mark applications and 40% more design registration applications, which indicates sustained economic growth in Spain. Jordi Hereu: "Defending industrial property is essential to successfully reach our goal of completing the fourth industrial revolution." During the Spanish presidency of the European Union, two milestones have been achieved: the publication of the rules of procedure for protecting geographical indications of craft and industrial products and the final text of the Directive and Regulation on Industrial Designs.

Industry | 12/15/2023

Alvaro Martínez Leiro, winner of the National Craftsmanship Prize

The Minister for Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, conveyed his support for this sector, which is renowned worldwide and has increased its levels of competitiveness through innovation, ICT and the orienting its processes more towards commercialization The awards ceremony celebrated the work of a sector that exceeds 4 billion euros in gross value added and represents 0.4 % of GDP

Tourism | 12/14/2023

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism convenes the Tourism Sector Conference to distribute 183 million euros to the Autonomous Communities on 29 December

Although all the Autonomous Communities voted unanimously yesterday in committee to take up the allocation of funds in the Sector Conference, the communities of Galicia, Andalusia, Cantabria, La Rioja, Murcia, Valencia, Aragón, Canary Islands, Extremadura, Illes Balears, Madrid, and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla refused to go forward with the planned agenda. In order to meet the deadlines agreed to with the European Commission and ensure the availability of funds, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism has convened a new session of the Sector Conference on 29 December.

Industry | 12/14/2023

Jordi Hereu transmitted to ANFAC his commitment to further progress in sustainable and connected mobility

The Minister of Industry, together with ANFAC (the Spanish Association of Car and Lorry Manufacturers), began a series of meetings with business organisations and unions in the Spanish industry. Hereu communicated to Griffiths the government's willingness to launch the third round of PERTE VEC applications during the first quarter of 2024 to continue to attract battery production and electric vehicle supply chain projects.

Industry | 12/13/2023

Jordi Hereu notes that promoting Spain's reindustrialisation is a priority for the government

The Minister for Industry and Tourism calls for coexistence and stability in Catalonia to bolster confidence and legal security to promote the return of companies that moved their headquarters outside of Catalonia. The Minister for Industry and Tourism reiterated his willingness to cooperate with the Xunta de Galicia to promote industrial projects such as that of ALTRI.

Industry | 12/7/2023

The European Competitiveness Council, under the Spanish presidency of the EU, adopted regulations on Net-Zero Industry

Jordi Hereu: “The new standard is essential for strengthening Europe's strategic autonomy; it is aimed at the objective of reindustrialisation and it is helping us to move forward in the energy transition to be at the forefront of climate neutrality” The dialogue with the European Parliament to approve the Net-Zero Industry regulations is expected to begin next week The Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, chaired the EU Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry).

Industry | 12/7/2023

Jordi Hereu: “The Net Zero Industries Law will boost our strategic regional and reindustrialisation projects with green technology ”

The minister of industry and tourism, Jordi Hereu, presided over the EU Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry) meeting today. Hereu said that one of the main objectives of the meeting was to discuss how to help SMEs to benefit from the Net-Zero Industries Act

Tourism | 12/5/2023

The Government has adopted a resolution to invest €54M in the autonomous regions to improve the digital skills of workers in the tourist industry

The recipients of the 150-hour training courses will be SMEs and workers in the tourism sector. A total of 19,350 workers are expected to participate before the end of the second quarter of 2026. Each autonomous region will develop a training program in Digital Skills for tourism and will coordinate its implementation and justification.

Tourism | 12/5/2023

The Government adopts a resolution to distribute €108 among the autonomous regions to fund energy-efficient projects by tourism companies

This year the aim was to upgrade 773 tourist establishments, improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Jordi Hereu “The government has succeeded in increasing the competitiveness of our tourism enterprises by developing energy efficiency projects and the circular economy with these investments, thus reducing the costs of energy efficiency and the carbon footprint ”.

Tourism | 12/4/2023

The influx of tourists to Spain in October exceeded $8.1 million, 7.8 per cent higher than the same month before the pandemic in 2019

Tourism expenditure has also grown by 24 per cent since last year and is 23.9 per cent higher than in October 2019. During the first ten months of 2023, tourist arrivals were 0.2% above the pre-pandemic figures and 18.2 per cent higher than in 2022, reaching an accumulated 74.70 million. Jordi Hereu: “We are transforming the physiognomy of our tourism. Spain continues to lead the absolute, complete recovery of the sector, but we are diversifying and deseasonalizing to create a more sustainable tourism industry which is less dependent on the four seasons ”.

Industry | 11/30/2023

Minister Jordi Hereu recognises the work of young entrepreneurs and assures the government is an ally to businesses

The National Young Entrepreneur Prize was awarded to Borja Pellicer, from Bet Solar, a Valencian company that is a leader in technical distribution of photovoltaic material. Jordi Hereu: “We have established a more favourable regulatory framework that promotes a more competitive business environment and encourages the development and success of new business initiatives, SMEs and startups”.

Industry | 11/30/2023

Industry definitively awards all of the €450 M allocated to gas-intensive industries

A total of 445 industrial companies will benefit from this aid to compensate for the exceptional increase in natural gas prices in 2022. Jordi Hereu: “This aid is a further example of the government's commitment to industry, in this case the gas-intensive industries which suffered from high energy prices last year”.

Tourism | 11/30/2023

Seats expected to be booked on international flights for the month of December number 8.1 million, one million more than a year ago

The increase compared to December 2022 is 14.2%, with the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy leading the list. Poland, Czech Republic and the US are the destinations that experienced the most growth compared to last year. Jordi Hereu: “The projections for December are extraordinary. Consolidation and growth in the European markets, and a rise in far-away markets, such as the US. We must continue to ensure air connectivity and the image of Spain as a sustainable, quality destination

Industry | 11/28/2023

The government allocates €3.147 B to modernise new Spanish combat aircraft

The EF-2000 1 plan programme will receive €1.75 B and the Falcon Programme another €1.397 B. The economic impact is expected to be positive for the Spanish aviation and defence industry. Jordi Hereu: “Prioritising strengthening the national defence industry and developing European industrial and technological capabilities is key to Spain in order to guarantee democracy and peace given the current shifts in the geopolitical and security landscape”.

Tourism | 11/17/2023

Spain receives 82.2 million international passengers between January and October, 18.4% more than the same period in 2022

In October, Spain received 9 million international air passengers, 13.4% more than in October 2022. All markets have shown an upward trend, with particularly large increases (over 17%) in Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Ireland. Héctor Gómez: "The increase in the arrival of travellers outside of what was once considered high season is great news for our objective of making tourism less seasonal. Moreover, destinations are diversifying and more Autonomous Communities are participating in the boom of increasingly sustainable destinations”.

Tourism | 11/17/2023

Tourism employment increases in October by 9.3% compared to the same month in 2019

There were 2.6 million workers in the tourism sector in October, which amounted to 12.9% of all people registered with the social security administration in the national economy. Employees in the tourism sector increased by 5.4% this October compared to a year ago, and people registered with the social security administration are seeing a 4.6% year-on-year increase. The Canary Islands is the autonomous community with the highest year-on-year increase, at 5.8%. Héctor Gómez: “Tourism employment is still performing excellently, even in the so-called ‘low season’, which indicates that our policies to decrease seasonality are bearing fruit”.

Trade | 11/17/2023

Spanish exports as of September exceed €287.5B

• The trade deficit was reduced to €29.596 billion in the January-September period.
• The sectors which contributed positively to the year-on-year growth rate for exports from January to September 2023 were the automotive, equipment and food, drink and tobacco industries.
• The autonomous communities with the greatest growth in exports in the period were Castile and León, Catalonia and La Rioja.
• Héctor Gómez: “The dynamism of Spanish exports compared to imports means the trade deficit has fallen by up to 44%. One of this Government's priorities has been to strengthen and increase our exporting companies and to make Spain an attractive country for foreign investment ”.

Tourism | 11/16/2023

Tourism data management will improve customer experience and optimisation of tourism businesses

Data experts, destination managers and representatives from the tourism industry discussed the importance of tourism intelligence to improve how tourism is managed. The forum, organized by the Secretary of State for Tourism in Benidorm, was attended by 250 professionals from the tourism sector. The meeting was part of the activities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Industry | 11/13/2023

Industry awards €229 million in CO2 aid to big industry

185 industrial companies will benefit, mostly from Asturias, the Basque Country and Andalusia. By sector, the largest amount is accounted for by the basic iron, steel and ferroalloys sector with 33.3%, followed by paper with 20.3%. Héctor Gómez: "Having a strong industrial network is one of the priorities of the government's agenda to continue with economic growth and the maintenance of quality employment".

Industry | 11/10/2023

Successful VEC II: the government approves fifteen more projects and exhausts the budget

With these new final awards, more than 528.7 million euros of grant funding has been awarded, representing more than 95% of the EU funds of the call. Héctor Gómez: "We are proud of the success of this event, which is the result of leadership in the new industrial revolution, dialogue with the sector and understanding the cultural change that is taking place in our society. The projects finally approved in this new round correspond to four projects from Stellantis, Scutum Logistic, Borgwarner, Benteler, Refinasol Battmat, Mindcaps, Lotte, Mobis, Scoobic, Lithium Iberia and Tecnologia Extremeña Del Litio.

Tourism | 11/10/2023

Spain proves itself to be a global leader in sustainable tourism at the World Travel Market.

Héctor Gómez: "The UK is our largest market in terms of tourist numbers and destination spending and has put the uncertainties of Brexit and the pandemic behind it. Moreover, our outlook tells us that there is plenty of room for improvement". Gómez: "The Spanish tourism industry represents a model to be followed at a global level to complete the revolution that this sector has undertaken in recent years". Rosana Morillo is pleased with the good forecasts for British tourist arrivals for 2024. The Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Andalusia, Murcia and Valencia were present at the event, which brought together 3,726 exhibitors.

Trade | 11/8/2023

Retail sales up 6.7% year-to-date over 2022 and the sector improves employment and confidence indices

Retail sales grew by 6% year-on-year in September, making a total of ten months of growth in Spain. In the third quarter of 2023, retail trade reached 1,992,500 employed persons; 9.4% of the total in Spain, 62.9% of whom are women. All retail trade indices improved: sales, employment and confidence indicators improved by 5.4 points compared to October 2022. Héctor Gómez: "The growth of retail trade and the good performance of employment are indicative of the strength of our local production network".

Industry | 11/8/2023

Industry launches the 'Active Cybersecurity' programme, which could benefit 4,500 SMEs

Interested companies can apply for aid at the EOI's electronic headquarters as of today. This is a call for aid in kind for advice to SMEs, through specialised cyber-security organisations. The amount of the call comes to 9.63 million euros within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. Héctor Gómez, "Spain is the fourth most cyber-secure country in the world and this government will continue to support those who make up more than 90% of our production network: SMEs".

Tourism | 11/7/2023

The Secretary of State for Tourism organises the Forum on Tourism Intelligence and Data: the keys to sustainability

Data experts, destination managers and representatives of the tourism sector will discuss the importance of tourism intelligence to improve tourism management. The event, which will have a capacity of 250 people, will be held on 16 November in the Alicante city of Benidorm.

Tourism | 11/6/2023

Héctor Gómez highlights Spain's leadership in London as a model for sustainable and social tourism

Turespaña leads the outstanding Spanish presence at the world tourism fair in London. Our country has 34 participants, including public institutions and private companies. The United Kingdom is the main source market for Spain, with more than 20% of the total number of tourists received. British tourists also lead the tourism expenditure statistics. Héctor Gómez: "Our country remains the UK's leading tourist destination in the post-pandemic period, and our prospects are that this will continue to be the case for years to come."

Tourism | 11/6/2023

The number of workers employed in the tourism sector increased by 6.5% compared to a year ago, reaching almost 3 million

25.1% of the new jobs generated in our country are related to tourism-related activities. Those employed in tourism-related activities already account for 13.9% of total employment in the Spanish economy. The number of employees in the tourism sector with permanent contracts (79.1%) increased by 17.9%, the ninth consecutive increase. The unemployment rate in the sector stood at 8.1% in the third quarter, 0.4% lower than in the previous quarter of 2023. Héctor Gómez: "We continue to transform employment conditions linked to tourism. More salaried employees, more permanent employees, more full days. In short, more and better jobs.

Tourism | 11/3/2023

The future of wine tourism to be debated in the wine capital

The UNWTO and the Government of La Rioja will hold the conference titled "Inclusive, sustainable and digital wine tourism: Building stronger territorial cohesion" from 22-24 November The event will be attended by 20 experts and representatives from wine regions around the world and is expected to be attract 300 participants, including public and private sector players.

Tourism | 11/2/2023

Tourism spending consolidates the sector's recovery with a 17% increase in September over the record for 2019

The total spending by international tourists who visited Spain is 11.215 billion euros, 22.6% more than in 2022. Tourist arrivals also grew by 13.6% compared to September 2022, with more than 8.8 million visitors. During the first nine months of 2023, spending is up 24.0% compared to 2022, reaching 84.608 billion euros. Héctor Gómez: "We celebrate these figures in the context of the Informal Ministerial Meeting which, as the country with the EU Presidency, we have just held and in which Spain has consolidated its leadership in making tourism an engine for sustainable economic growth across the continent."

Tourism | 10/27/2023

Héctor Gómez inaugurates the European Tourism Forum in Palma with social sustainability at its core

The event has as its central theme social sustainability in tourism and will address the priorities set for the EU semester. The European Tourism Forum is organized by the European Commission and the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Héctor Gómez: "I am convinced that this Forum, which has become an unmissable annual event, will allow us to share and enrich the debate about the future challenges of the sector." This event precedes the Informal Meeting of Ministers of Tourism to be held in Palma the following day, October 31.

Industry | 10/27/2023

Industry submits the draft of the initial call for proposals under the PERTE for Industrial Decarbonisation for public hearing

The development of the PERTE for Industrial Decarbonisation foresees a total public investment of 3.1 billion euros and the creation of around 8,000 quality jobs. The call for the first line of aid is aimed at comprehensive action for decarbonisation and will be for an amount of 1 billion euros, 500 million in grants and 500 million for loans.

Tourism | 10/26/2023

Projections for the fourth quarter point to a record year in tourism expenditure

Reports on winter tourism trends have been published Tourism advisors from nine countries of origin have presented the challenges and trends in geographical areas Héctor Gómez: “Our commitment to deseasonalising tourism is both strong and essential: Spain is a first-rate destination, not only in summer, but throughout the year”. Spain is the best country for sustainable travel, and the Basque Country is one of the best areas in the world, according to the Lonely Planet awards

Industry | 10/25/2023

Industry takes full advantage of €450M of aid for gas-intensive industry to assist 448 industrial facilities in Spain

The Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has published the interim resolution following the call for proposals launched last July. The aim is to compensate for the costs incurred by companies that have a high industrial consumption of natural gas. Héctor Gómez: “This resolution responds to the Government of Spain's explicit commitment to gas-intensive companies so that sectors which are so important for the Spanish economy can continue their productive activity”.

Tourism | 10/23/2023

Héctor Gómez opened the Turespaña III Convention with the sustainable transformation of tourism as the main focus

The event, organised by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism together with Donostia-San Sebastian City Council, and with collaboration from Gipuzkoa District Council and Basquetour, brought together 500 tourism operators from the private sector and various public administrations Turespaña presented the project for designing indicators to measure the attitudes of the resident population in Spain towards tourism in order to ascertain its real impact on the territories The Basque Country has received almost €68M in aid resulting from calls for proposals under the Tourism Sustainability Plan

Trade | 10/19/2023

Spanish exports grow by 1.8% up to August and reach more than €250 billion.

The trade deficit narrowed to 25.758 billion euros in the first eight months of the year. Exports in the automotive, capital goods and food sectors continued to perform well. Héctor Gómez: "The reduction of the trade deficit is very good news for our trade; we must continue to work to become more and more competitive as a country".

Tourism | 10/19/2023

Between January and September, Spain received 73.2 million international passengers, 19.1% more than in the same period for 2022.

Spain reached 9.6 million international air passengers in September, 10% more than in September 2022. Almost all source markets showed significant increases of more than 10% in September. Héctor Gómez: "The diversification of source markets is great news for a sector that is undergoing a profound revolution in terms of the quality of destinations and experiences".

Industry | 10/16/2023

Spain aims to lead industrial transformation in Europe through digitalization and sustainability

The acting Minister of Industry, Héctor Gómez, accompanied HM King Felipe VI at the inauguration of the 10th Industrial Forum that analyzes business megatrends, organized by El Economista. The PERTE, different lines of support for industrial innovation and clusters, and the promotion of intelligent tourist destinations are the focus of the activities of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. Héctor Gómez:"For this government, sustainability, AI and strategic autonomy are absolute priorities, the pillars of the new industrial revolution we are promoting."

Industry | 10/13/2023

Minister Héctor Gómez meets with the unions CCOO and UGT to discuss the new industrial revolution

Industry is committed to dialogue with social organisations to face the challenges of the sector through innovation and adaptation. Gómez stressed the importance of strengthening the labor market and improving the quality of employment in order to turn Spain into a center for training, attracting and retaining talent.

Industry | 10/13/2023

78% of the projects presented in the R&D&I aid line for the manufacturing industry are dedicated to sustainability plans

The call received 253 project applications from 223 companies. By Autonomous Communities, Catalonia and the Valencian Community have submitted almost half of the applications and, together with Castile-Leon, account for more than half of the budget to be executed. Héctor Gómez: "We are deploying an ambitious agenda of active industrial policy that will contribute to modernising and making our productive model more resilient and competitive through digital transformation, the green economy and innovation. This is the Spain we want".

Industry | 10/11/2023

Industry provisionally approves seven new PERTE VEC II battery projects for 87 million euros

The projects are for the companies Stellantis, Mobis, Fragnor and Lithium Iberia. The final resolution is approved for Beecycle, which obtains financing for an electric vehicle battery recycling plant in Navarra for 1.6 million euros. From this moment on, the period of allegations begins, in which the companies can aspire to reach the maximum that the projects allow in the framework of this call. Héctor Gómez: "The proactivity and collaboration of the automotive sector in Spain is extraordinary, which is demonstrating, through its projects, its will to turn our country into the hub of European mobility".

Industry | 10/10/2023

The Minister of Industry opens a new dialogue with the regional government to advance major industrial projects in Galicia

Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Héctor Gómez met with the president of Galicia today to bring him up to speed on the programmes launched by the Ministry in the region. The government has allocated 2.1 billion euros to different industrial sectors, both from European funds and the national budget. A major instrument for Galicia will be the Industrial Decarbonisation PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation), lines one and four of which will be rolled out before the end of the year in the amount of 1.25 billion euros. Gómez has opened an avenue for greater collaboration with Galicia, with the condition of maintaining a mutual agreement for “co-governance and institutional loyalty”.

Trade | 10/10/2023

Retail sales at constant prices increase 7.0% year-on-year in August

The average number of Social Security affiliates increased by 1.3% year-on-year in September 2023 to 1,937,647. Registered unemployment in retail trade decreased by 6.5% year-on-year in September 2023. Spain's retail confidence indicator is higher than that of the major European economies.

Industry | 10/10/2023

Industry grants €31 M in aid to 488 electro-intensive industries to offset energy bill charges

The aim of this compensation mechanism for electricity-intensive consumers is to prevent the transfer of industrial production to other countries. Almost a quarter of the aid beneficiaries are active in Catalonia, followed by Andalusia, the Basque Country, Valencia and Asturias. The paper and board manufacturing sector, followed by the iron and steel sector, is the sector receiving the most aid.

Tourism | 10/3/2023

Tourism closes a successful summer in Spain with more than 10 million international tourists arriving in August

The total expenditure of international tourists visiting Spain is 13.53 billion, 19.9% more than in August 2022. Tourist arrivals grew by 13.9% in August 2023 compared to the same month last year. Héctor Gómez: “We are closing an extraordinary summer with figures that confirm the full recovery of a sector that is not only the main engine of the economy, but also generates better and better quality jobs".

Industry | 10/2/2023

Héctor Gómez: “Spain, with the boost of its productive fabric, will be the European green industrial pole.”

For two days, leaders at the highest level, institutions, companies, associations and clusters will meet in the capital of the Costa del Sol to analyse the present and the future of the industry. Minister of Industry: "We do not want another Spain; we want the best industrial Spain. We are going to guarantee a transformation of the sector that leads to sustainable, inclusive and quality employment, reducing unemployment rates and promoting social justice". Enisa has certified more than 150 companies as start-ups, recalled Gómez.

Tourism | 9/29/2023

Planned international seat capacity for October is close to 10.5 million, almost one million more than a year ago.

The increase compared to 2022 is 9.8%, with the UK, Germany and Italy leading the way. This month's figure is around 400,000 seats better than the figure for the same month pre-pandemic (October 2023). Héctor Gómez: "In addition to the consolidation of European markets, there is the good performance of distant markets, such as Mexico and the USA. We must continue to guarantee air connectivity and the projection of Spain as a sustainable and quality destination".

Industry | 9/27/2023

Minister Héctor Gómez underlines the strength of the aerospace industry during his visit to Airspace Integration Week

Héctor Gómez: “The development of the aviation sector is fundamental to our growth as a tourist attraction, as well as to the ongoing industrial revolution”. The Recovery Plan envisages an Aerospace ERP mobilising around 4.533 billion euros between 2021 and 2025

Industry | 9/25/2023

EU countries agree to the Spanish presidency's proposal regarding new Euro 7 car emissions rules

Héctor Gómez: “Our position is to stay on this path to lead the mobility of the future and to adopt realistic levels of emissions for the next decade while helping our industry to move towards non-polluting cars in 2035 ”. The council has agreed to change emissions limits for cars and vans as regards abrasion of tyres, checks and batteries. The entry into force of the regulation was delayed to 2027 for light vehicles and 2029 for heavy-duty vehicles.

Trade | 9/21/2023

Spanish exports grew by 3.3% since July and exceed 230 billion euros

The trade deficit was reduced to 21.323 billion euros in January-July. The strong export performance of the automobile, equipment, and food sectors stands out in particular.

Tourism | 9/20/2023

Between January and August, Spain welcomed 63.6 million international passengers, a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2022

In August, Spain welcomed 10.1 million international air passengers, 12.3% more than in 2022 Héctor Gómez: "Spain has kept its strength as a tourist destination. Spain's tourism sector has been revived and has proved its resilience despite the global challenges”.

Industry | 9/19/2023

The minister Héctor Gómez set out in the European Parliament the priorities of the Spanish presidency of the EU for Industry, Trade and Tourism

The minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism participated in three committees, the Trade committee, which he attended alone; Transport and Tourism, where he was joined by minister Raquel Sánchez; and Industry, Research and Energy, which he attended with the First Deputy Prime Minister, Nadia Calviño. In Industry he noted the need for continued promotion of “the new industrial revolution in the EU which aims to improve production processes, grow the economy and ensure the strategic autonomy of the EU ”. In Trade he advocated an “ambitious” policy to “expeditiously” implement free trade agreements. In Tourism he advocated a “paradigm shift”, that embraces a cross-cutting approach and a move towards sustainability, and which recognises the weight of tourism at EU level.

Industry | 9/19/2023

Industry closes the application round for PERTE VEC II with 186 applications in two lines that will mobilise €8.5B.

The Ministry of Industry is evaluating the proposals received on a first come, first served basis so the application round can be completed as soon as possible. Héctor Gómez: “The data we're seeing demonstrate the success of the second round of PERTE applications. Spain is going to become a first-class industrial hub for sustainable mobility”. At the moment, 10 projects from eight different companies have been provisionally approved.

Industry | 9/18/2023

Industry provisionally granted €54 M to 279 collaborative projects by Innovative Business Groups

A total of 98 per cent of projects submitted by innovative business groups and members of the companies themselves are collaborations. Seventy per cent of the amount of subsidized projects are based in the regions of Andalusia, Aragon and Catalonia. Support for the strengthening and the activity of so-called innovation “clusters” are part of the European strategy for improving competitiveness through innovation.

Tourism | 9/18/2023

Jobs in tourism continue to grow and new contracts grew in August 5.1 by per cent over the last year ago

Héctor Gómez “Tourism is the main driving force of the economy, and we welcome that improvement in employment with more specialized and higher quality jobs every day. But we want more. We will continue to work to create not only more but better jobs”. Since August 2019, the number of registered contracts has grown by 5.1 per cent. Workers in tourism in August accounted for 13.5% of total participants in the national economy.

Industry | 9/15/2023

Envision and SEAT, new projects approved by Industry within the batteries section

These two provisional proposals would total 247 million euros in subsidies and 100 million euros in loans.

Industry | 9/15/2023

Héctor Gómez attends Madrid Fashion Week to support the fashion industry

The Ministry of Industry supports the sector in several ways, such as the Support Fund for Industrial Productive Investment and financial support for research, development and innovation projects. Héctor Gómez "Spanish fashion has great potential for growth and creating high-quality jobs, besides being an international benchmark that is key to its success". According to data of the Textile and Clothing Information Centre, the turnover of Spanish textile industry reached 651 million in 2022.

Industry | 9/15/2023

Industry provisionally awards €161.5 million to 281 industrial projects to support the agri-food sector

The objective of the PERTE is to encourage the modernization, sustainability and digital processing of agricultural sector. Héctor Gómez “ this PERTE is a great opportunity to accelerate innovations in agribusiness in its broadest sense, encouraging aspects such as food traceability and the automation of industrial processes towards more sustainable models ”.

Industry | 9/14/2023

The Naval PERTE will subsidise 40 projects from 73 companies, providing more than €56M

The Naval PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation) will help modernise the sector in Spain, increasing its competitiveness by about 15%. Héctor Gómez: “these data confirm that the PERTE public-private collaboration model works to attract transformational industrial projects in the naval industry”.

Industry | 9/13/2023

The Decarbonisation PERTE will kick off in mid-October with the first line of aid in the amount of €1 billion

The Decarbonisation PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation) is expected to offer a total public investment of 3.1 billion euros and create some 8,000 quality jobs. The Ministry of Industry is already working on the fourth line of aid, which is expected to be available by the end of year. According to Minister Héctor Gómez, “the government's commitment to transforming industry is beyond reproach and firm, and it is equal to the challenge presented by the sector and society”.

Industry | 9/12/2023

Industry provisionally approves 18 projects for a total of €15.6 M to modernise the pharmaceutical sector

Catalonia and Castilla-La Mancha will receive the most benefit from the total proposed aid.

Trade | 9/12/2023

Trade completes the aid programme to strengthen the business sector by mobilising 313 million euros

In all, 346 projects have received funds through the three rounds of the programme implemented from 2021 to 2023 Next Generation EU Aid has been awarded in three areas: sustainable urban markets, sustainable markets in rural areas and strengthening the commercial sector in tourist areas

Industry | 9/7/2023

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism is organising the sixth edition of the National Congress on Industry and SMEs in Malaga.

This sixth edition will take place on 2 and 3 October at the Congress and Trade Fair Centre of Malaga. Registration is now open for the sixth edition of the CNIP, which under the slogan "Net Zero: The Industry of the Future" outlines the main lines of the Spanish industry's annual reference event. This event has been resized and transformed into the integrating space for industry and SMEs, bringing together their leaders at the highest level, institutions, companies, associations, clusters, and all professionals and experts in the value chain committed to economic and industrial development.

Industry | 9/6/2023

Héctor Gómez reinforces the Government's commitment to entrepreneurship and announces that more than 100 companies have received the startup certificate.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism has announced that Enisa has received more than a thousand applications from companies to receive certification and thus access the benefits of the Startups Act. Startup Olé is among the 25 events highlighted by Industry for boosting the innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem in Spain. In 2022, Spain had 12,041 start-ups, making it the fourth European country with the highest number of start-ups.

Tourism | 9/5/2023

Spain and Brazil demonstrate successful tourism cooperation in sustainability and digitalisation

Héctor Gómez has met with his counterpart, the Brazilian Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino, to advance economic and diplomatic relations between the two tourism sectors. Gómez highlighted the "investment potential for Spanish companies that the fruitful collaboration in the field of smart destinations represents". The Brazilian minister thanked Spain for its willingness and highlighted it as an example of international cooperation, which he hopes to strengthen during Brazil's future presidency of the G20.

Tourism | 8/31/2023

International seat bookings for September are close to 10.7 million, one million more than a year ago.

The increase compared to 2022 is 10.1%, with the UK, Germany and Italy leading the way. Poland, the Czech Republic and Portugal are the countries with the highest year-on-year growth in bookings. Héctor Gómez: “Spain is a deseasonalized, quality destination that is highly sought after by international travellers from all over the world. There is no doubt that 2023 will be a historic year for our tourism".

Tourism | 8/24/2023

Héctor Gómez visits the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory with the Third Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, to check the effects of the Tenerife wildfire.

Héctor Gómez: “All the administrations, at the highest level of collaboration, are committed to extinguishing the fire, which is still active. We must be cautious but also optimistic, because we have material and human resources that are making an incalculable sacrifice to put out the fire and minimise the damage". The current affected area of the fire is about 14,751 hectares, spread over 13 municipalities, and a perimeter of 90 km.

Tourism | 8/21/2023

Spain reaches 10.3 million international air passengers in July, 11.5% more than a year ago

Héctor Gómez: ""Spain is a leading destination and this is demonstrated by today's data, which certify the sweet summer that the sector is experiencing, with record spending and tourist arrivals”. The markets with the strongest year-on-year growth were Poland, Portugal and Italy.

Trade | 8/17/2023

Spanish exports reach an all-time high and grow 4.7% in the first six months of 2023

Héctor Gómez: "The foreign sector is one of the driving forces of our economy and the competitiveness of Spanish companies in international markets stands out for its capacity and innovation". The trade deficit nearly halved to 16.42 billion euros in the first half of the year from 31.963 billion euros in the same period last year. The non-energy balance showed a surplus of 285 million euros.

Tourism | 8/16/2023

Tourism employment reaches its best July in history with 2.8 million new registered employees

Héctor Gómez: “Tourism employment reaches record figures thanks to the boost from government policies and the strength of our business sector”. Compared to July 2019, enrollment grew by 7.2%. The number of employees in tourism activities accounted for 13.6% of the total number of employees in the national economy.

Trade | 8/10/2023

Retail sales increased by 6.8 per cent in June, and employment rose to a historic maximum

The number of workers registered with the Social Security increased by 1.1% year on year in July, to a historic high of 1,977,797 in a given month. Héctor Gómez: “This is extremely good news, which highlights the health and vigour of our internal market and of the economy overall” Registered unemployment in the retail trade fell by 5.6% in July 2023, reaching the lowest figure of the series. Retail trade accounted for 8.9% of the total number of employed persons in the economy in the second quarter of the year and 61.1% of trade. Moreover, almost 65% of these workers are women.

Tourism | 8/9/2023

One in every four new jobs created in the Spanish economy is linked to tourism

Total workers in the tourism sector reached 2.86 million in the second quarter of 2023, 6.3 per cent more than in 2019, with more than 3.1 million active workers. Wage earners in the tourism sector with permanent contracts (80.4 per cent) have risen by 18.1 per cent, the eighth consecutive increase. Temporary contracts have fallen by 19.9 per cent. The unemployment rate is 8.5 per cent, almost three points below the same period in 2019. Héctor Gómez “Tourism is a major economic driver in our country. Spain continues to create jobs linked to the tourism sector, which is increasingly robust and marked by stability and excellence.

Tourism | 8/7/2023

Tourists arriving from China increased by 420% in the first six months of the year

In the first half of 2023, the international tourism market increased significantly compared to 2022, both in the flow of tourists (+23.7 per cent) and expenditure (+28.3 per cent). In addition to China, the Asian market – South Korea and Japan – is still providing three-digit growth. The influx of tourists from the US increased by 57 per cent during the last six months, and new direct routes have been added since 2022. Héctor Gómez “The recovery of the Asian market, in particular tourism from China, is excellent news for our country's quality and internationalisation.”

Tourism | 8/2/2023

Tourist income continues to grow in June and the number of tourists increased by 10.9 per cent compared to 2022

More than half a million tourists visited from the USA in June, a year-on-year increase of 41.7% year. The average spend per traveller is 1,275 euros, 5.9 per cent more than a year ago and 16.3 per cent higher than pre-pandemic figures. Héctor Gómez “The phenomenal growth of the US economy is making our destinations particularly attractive, particularly since our country offers such high quality vacations”. Spain welcomed 37.4 million arrivals in the first half of the year and total income amounted to more 46.011 million euros. The leading regions for incoming tourism in the first six months were Catalonia, the Balearics and the Canaries.

Tourism | 7/31/2023

Seats booked on international flights in August exceed $11.4 million, a million more than a year ago

Colombia, Poland and Portugal have all seen year-on-year growth in flights sold Héctor Gómez "July has been outstanding for tourism; August, Spain's busiest month for tourism, is on track to break another record"

Industry | 7/27/2023

Minister Héctor Gómez strengthens industry links with the Carlos III University

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism has met with the rector of Madrid University and was given a guided tour of the mechanics and robotics laboratory. The Ministry, through the Department of Industry and small and medium-sized enterprises (DGIPYME) and ICEX, has awarded grants totalling almost 265,000 euros to UC3M. Héctor Gómez "Scientific contribution is key for the industrial and technological progress to which we aspire". The University and the Ministry had signed a total of six agreements with agencies such as ICEX, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office and the Centre for Spanish Metrology.

Industry | 7/27/2023

The Government culminates PERTE VEC II with a call for the individual project line.

The office for the call for the so-called section B of the PERTE VEC II will be open from 16 August to 15 September.. Héctor Gómez: "This is a crucial step to respond to the demands in the automotive sector in Spain, and that puts us at the forefront of the green mobility sector in the EU". The budget consists of €344 billion in subsidies and €215 million in grants.

Industry | 7/27/2023

The Accelerates Startups programme is ready to boost the growth and development of 6,100 innovative entrepreneurs and startups

The Ministry of Industry initiative will assist 6,100 startups and innovative entrepreneurs with NextGenerationEU funds through the “Accelerate Startups programme”. The call for assistance in kind to advise startups through more than 50 accelerators in Spain starts on 5 September. A total of €33.3 million has been allocated within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

Industry | 7/21/2023

ENISA opens the certification process for start-ups

ENISA has so far received 1,900 consultations from companies interested in the certification process. The government estimates that at least 10,000 companies wishing to access the tax relief provided for under the startups law are applying for accreditation. Héctor Gómez: “Spain is not only the best country to live in, but also to start entrepreneurial activity and to invest. This order brings to a close the procedure of the framework law on the promotion of the start-up ecosystem and marks a new era of modernisation and great opportunities not only for economic growth, but also for the labour market ”.

Tourism | 7/21/2023

Tourism employment records the best June in the historical series, with 2.76 million social security contributors

Héctor Gómez "Social security affiliation data confirm our good forecasts for 2023, the year of the full recovery of tourism in Spain ” Participants in tourism activities amounted to 13.4% of participants in the national economy as a whole.

Industry | 7/20/2023

More than 5,000 companies and self-employed individuals registered in June through the Ministry of Industry's unified electronic system CIRCE

Almost 2,000 Limited Companies have been created, 96% in less than 24 hours. More than 3,000 self-employed individuals registered, 99 per cent in less than 24 hours. 5,171 new jobs created by these companies. 18.96% more companies incorporated and self-employed individuals registered compared to the same month in 2022. More than 4,000 Enterprise Assistance Points available free of charge to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business.

Trade | 7/20/2023

Spanish exports are up by 6.4%, reaching record levels

The trade deficit has continued to decrease to 47 per cent in the first five months of the year. The autonomous communities with higher growth in their exports were Castile and Leon, La Rioja and Catalonia. Héctor Gómez “the strength of Spanish exporter companies and their good positioning in international markets mean that exports are more dynamic than imports ”.

Industry | 7/18/2023

The government authorizes €450M in aid to gas-intensive industrial companies

The goal is to mitigate the impact on industries with the most intensive natural gas consumption by compensating for part of the additional costs due to the exceptional increase in natural gas prices during 2022.

Tourism | 7/18/2023

In June, Spain reached 9.1 million international air passengers, 10% more than a year ago

In the first six months of the year, Spain surpassed 43 million passengers, 24.3% more than in the same period in 2022. Héctor Gómez: "We continue to see extraordinary data demonstrating the potential for tourism growth in Spain”.

Trade | 7/17/2023

The European Union continues to request the removal of tariffs black olives spanish

Héctor Gómez, minister of industry, commerce and tourism “ from the government of spain and from the european commission will remain open to reach an understanding with the united states to safeguard the interests of our farmers. ”

Tourism | 7/13/2023

Spain presents its program to lead sustainable tourism in the EU to the UN

The Secretary of State for Tourism is participating in the United Nations Special Session on Sustainable Tourism in New York. Morillo will describe the efforts being made to promote the environmental, social and labor sustainability of the sector.

Industry | 7/12/2023

More than 3,300 industrial SMEs could benefit from ‘Programa Activa Industria 4.0’ to accelerate their digital transformation

This is a call for in-kind aid providing advice to SMEs through specialized entities. The amount of the call is 24.4 million euros, framed within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

Industry | 7/10/2023

The Government publishes the bases for granting aid 450 M €to industry gasintensiva

This line of aid will enable each company to receive compensation of up to 4 million euros and they could receive up to 25 million euros if they can show a reduction in their EBITDA of more than 30 per cent in 2022 compared with the previous year. Héctor Gómez “these subsidies respond to the concerns of firms to maintain their productive activity and will make it possible to maintain such important sectors as ceramics, paper and glass". This call comes in addition to the one published last Saturday, for 86 million euros, to compensate energy-intensive companies for higher electricity prices.

Trade | 7/10/2023

The Spanish Presidency starts with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and New Zealand

The Agreement strengthens trade relations with the Indo-Pacific region, reduces barriers and promotes sustainable economic growth. Includes innovative sustainability commitments in the areas of the environment, fundamental labour rights and gender Héctor Gómez: The signing of this agreement reflects the EU's unwavering commitment to the advantages of trade openness, promoting strategic open autonomy.

Industry | 7/6/2023

Industry closes the 2022 call for submissions to the PROFARMA programme

The PROFARMA programme promotes competitiveness in the pharmaceutical industry by ranking and rating business on the basis of their excellence in different industrial, economic, research, development and innovation aspects. Its objective is to boost the competitiveness of the sector and promote activities that provide greater added value such as investment in new industrial plants and new technology, as well as promote RDI. In the 2022 call that is now closing, nine pharmaceutical companies have been described as “excellent” by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

Industry | 7/4/2023

The government is devoting more than €214M to drive the digital transformation, growth and training of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises

Héctor Gómez “These five programmes reflect a significant number of investments directed towards strengthening the ecosystem of small and medium-sized enterprises and Spanish startups, improving their competitiveness and growth through strengthening their resilience and boosting the digital transition”.

Trade | 7/4/2023

The government is modernizing the investment policy, strengthening legal certainty for investors and companies

This new Royal Decree provides a clear, predictable and legally secure application of Spanish investment control regulations. Héctor Gómez "The attraction of foreign investment to Spain has been a fundamental element in driving the modernization of the economy and the creation of productive, stable and quality employment."

Industry | 7/4/2023

The government authorized €86M to offset charges to electro-intensive companies

Expenses corresponding to 2022 are subsidized. The aid intensity can reach up to 85% of the costs incurred. Héctor Gómez: "These aids are key for the industrial sector because it improves its competitiveness and strengthens its industrial capacities and employment."

Tourism | 7/4/2023

Spain records best May ever in number of tourists and expenditure at destination.

May registered 8.2 million tourists, 4% more than the previous record in 2019. There has also been an increase of a million visitors with respect to April, in which Easter was celebrated. In the first five months, Spain received 29 million arrivals, 28% more than the same period in 2022, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). Tourism expenditure in May is also record high, at 9.7 million euros, 21% more than in 2022 and 19% compared to the best pre-pandemic data (2019). Hector Gómez says "we are in the early days of a historic summer for tourism, and today's traveller and expenditure data is following the extraordinary path of recent months; quality and competitiveness to remain world leaders”.

Industry | 7/3/2023

27 strategic projects are submitted to the call for the industrial transition in the pharmaceutical and medical devices

The line of aid provided by the ministry of industry, commerce and tourism of Health within L avant-garde has received 24 companies projects valued at over $114 million euros. The companies are determined to foster industrial transition of the pharmaceutical sector towards a more sustainable model with the government's drive.

Industry | 6/30/2023

Seventy-eight per cent of the projects submitted to the IDI manufacturing industry grant line focus on sustainability plans

The call for IDI line grants for innovation and sustainability plans in the manufacturing industry, with a budget of €188 M, has received 253 project applications from 223 companies: 198 for the sustainability line and 55 for R&D&i. Total investment for the projects amounts to €423.3 M, with 92% -almost €391 M- allocated to sustainability. By Autonomous Community, Catalonia and Valencia have submitted almost half the applications and, together with Castilla and León, would account for over half the budget.

Tourism | 6/30/2023

Tourism employment in Spain records the highest firgure in the histroical series with 2.75 million social security contributors

The number of employees has grown by 6.7% compared to May 2002, and the number of self-employed people has grown by 0.5% Héctor Gómez says that “this is great news at the beginning of what will be a historic summer in terms of both the number of tourists and spending; the number of jobs is growing, and even better, so is the quality of employment ”

Tourism | 6/29/2023

The minister Héctor Gómez announced the creation of a high-level forum with the participation of the tourism sector

Héctor Gómez, “ this forum will serve to strengthen collaboration público-privada, share knowledge and strategies are put in place innovative tourist offer a comprehensive vision of our tourist ecosystem ”. The minister of industry, commerce and tourism has chaired in Parador de chinchón, in Madrid, a meeting where they have laid the foundations for the future Forum. It has also deployed the main aspects of the line of tourism – TURIMPULSA- Plan endowed with eur 1 billion that the government of spain submitted to brussels in addition to the recovery Plan, transformation and Resilience. The meeting has assisted the secretary of state of tourism, Rosana Morillo Paradores president of the spanish government, Pedro Saura, and leaders of this sector alojativo, travel agencies, technology and the airlines.

Industry | 6/29/2023

A total of 178 companies present projects for the programme “ Active Funding” support industrial digitization amounting to 84.4 M €

Dominated by projects presented at the Activa-Pyme line, with 129 applications. By Autonomous Communities, catalonia, followed by Madrid, Andalucia and aragón, leading of projects submitted, taking approximately 80% of the total. Active line Financing 2023 aims to support the development of industrial research projects, development projects, as well as pilot projects in the field of organization and processes, in the area of industry Connected 4.0 and aimed at the fulfilment of the objectives of the same.

Tourism | 6/26/2023

413 Spanish beaches, awarded for their quality, sustainability and safety.

The Spanish Institute for Tourism Quality (ICTE) delivered the awards at the Ministry of Tourism The awards certify that the beaches comply with internationally approved requirements

Tourism | 6/23/2023

Spain highlights actions taken to recover tourism at G20

Morillo highlights the public network of protection measures for workers and companies and investment in healthcare as successful formulas for recovering pre-Covid figures The Secretary of State joins the countries denouncing the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia

Tourism | 6/20/2023

Tourism will invest $14.7 million in the rehabilitation of National Heritage properties

Residences in Madrid capital, Aranjuez, El Escorial and La Granja de San Ildefonso. National Heritage manages 19 palaces and houses, 10 monasteries and convents, which make up the network of Royal Sites in Spain, and that are home to more than 160,000 artefacts of historical and artistic interest.

Trade | 6/20/2023

Foreign investment in Spain up 20.3% in the first quarter of 2023

Industry tops the investment rankings Héctor Gómez:The Government's economic policy is key to generating confidence abroad, as demonstrated by the today's data. Legal certainty and solid economic growth reflect Spain strong position.

Tourism | 6/16/2023

In May, Spain exceeded 8.8 million international air passengers, 13.9% more than a year ago

In the first five months of the year, Spain welcomed more than 34 million passengers, 28.8% more than over the same period in 2022. Héctor Gómez "These data confirm the excellent performance of tourism in the first half of the year. Our forecast for the high season is that we will exceed the 2019 pre-pandemic figures for tourists, overnight stays and spending at destination".

Industry | 6/15/2023

Arcelor presents the Ministry of Industry with its application for the EUR 450 M grant to decarbonise of the Gijón plant

Héctor Gómez “This is excellent news with which progress is made towards the production of ‘green’ steel in Asturias. The government is fulfilling its commitment to accompany industry in the process of decarbonisation in order to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and improve efficiency”.

Trade | 6/15/2023

Spanish exports up by 9.2% year-on-year to April, an all-time high

Trade deficit falls by 50% in the first four months of the year Héctor Gómez: In the first quarter, the deficit has halved thanks to Spanish exports.

Industry | 6/9/2023

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism will mobilize over 8.7 billion from the addendum to the recovery plan to strengthen PERTEs and tourism plans.

For Héctor Gómez, “this is the boost that will enable a giant leap forward to be made in the transformation of Spanish industry and the modernisation of our productive network”. Two new funds of 2.4 billion euros have been created, managed by Cofides to generate sustainable investments

Trade | 6/7/2023

Minister Héctor Gómez strengthens trade relations with United States in anticipation of the European Presidency

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism welcomed his US counterpart to discuss key issues such as the agreements with Latin American countries, the Spanish presidency of the EU and the bilateral cooperation achieved during Pedro Sánchez's last visit to the White House. Héctor Gómez: "Strengthening the EU's trade relations with the US will be a priority for the European presidency, in order to ensure a path of economic growth and innovation in both countries". The Spanish Government appreciates the commitment of US to undertake the reform of the World Trade Organization.

Tourism | 6/1/2023

Spain recorded its best April ever in terms of international tourist numbers and spending levels, 20% above the pre-pandemic record

In the first four months, Spain received 21 million arrivals, 32.4% more than in the same period in 2022, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). Visitor and spending records were also broken in April: 8.48 billion euros, up 22.7% on 2022 and 20.2% on the best pre-pandemic figure (2019). Héctor Gómez: “These are extraordinary figures that show, once again, that Spain is at the forefront, that tourism is recovering fully and that the government's policies are working”.

Tourism | 5/31/2023

The Government opens the deadline to apply for 244 million euros in CO2 aid for the electro-intensive industry

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism has published the 2023 call for applications for compensation of costs for indirect emissions greenhouse gases. The deadline for applications is 20 working days, ranging from 1 June to 28 June this year, both inclusive. “We have responded with determination and speed in order to protect the business network in face of the increase in energy prices”, expressed the minister Héctor Gómez.

Industry | 5/29/2023

The Government is launching two lines of aid for the digital transformation and sustainability of industry for the amount of almost 220 M €

The R&D&i Line is aimed at promoting innovation and sustainability in the manufacting industry with €188 M. The areas covered by this first call for applications range from the circular economy and eco-innovation applied to improving value chains, to decarbonisation and energy efficiency. The Active Financing Line will support the development of industrial research and innovation projects, and is endowed with €30 M.

Tourism | 5/19/2023

Spain exceeds 8.1 million international air passengers in April, 16.9 per cent more than a year ago

In the first four months of the year, Spain received 25,262,701 of air passengers, 34.9 per cent more than for the same period in 2022. Héctor Gómez said, "These first four months has been very good in terms of tourism. Spain boasts a high-quality and robust sector, which is a source of wealth and employment and one of the flagship industries of our country.”

Trade | 5/18/2023

The trade deficit was reduced by around 57% in the first quarter of the year

Spanish exports increased by 14.6% year on year January-March 2023. Héctor Gómez: “The figures for the first quarter of the year are very positive for our external sector, which is undeniably the driving force behind economic growth and employment generation in our country”

Industry | 5/18/2023

The call to tender for the grants programme to support Innovative Business Groupings (IBG) has received 446 requests totalling more than 96 M €

Projects presented in collaboration between different IBG and companies which are members of the same predominated. By Autonomous Community, Catalonia, Aragon and Andalusia, lead the number of projects submitted, forming approximately 65% of the total. Support for the strengthening and activity of so-called innovation “clusters” is part of the European strategy for improving competitiveness through innovation.

Industry | 5/17/2023

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism supports industrial and artisan business initiatives in Castilla-La Mancha

Héctor Gómez “Castilla-La Mancha has great potential for innovation in production processes and to take advantage of future sectors such as green steel”

Industry | 5/17/2023

41 companies choose to try out reduced working hours without cutting wages

Héctor Gómez “This pilot programme shows that companies are open to new ways of organizing their workdays, with reductions in working hours without affecting wages but improving thier results, it's a win-win situation for both SMEs and employees”. This pilot project seeks to collect data to form a reliable assessment that can be extrapolated to all small and medium-sized companies in the industrial sector.

Tourism | 5/9/2023

The Government approves 175 projects for sustainable tourism that will mobilize 478 million euros in European funds

Héctor Gómez: “These projects represent a step forward in improving the competitiveness of our tourist destinations and a commitment to a new, more sustainable and digital model that increases their capacity to unite the territory.” The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has allocated a total of 1,858 million euros to local and regional tourism projects over the last three years.

Trade | 5/4/2023

Spain will provide Colombia with financial assistance up to a maximum of 1 billion euros

Héctor Gómez “I would like to highlight the significant presence of spanish companies in Colombia and the firm and solid commitment they continue to make towards the growth and sustainable development of this country. Today there are more than 800 spanish companies installed in Colombia, in all sectors of the economy ”. Spain and Colombia sign a protocol to promote exports of Spanish goods and services.

Tourism | 5/4/2023

Spain welcomes 13.7 million international tourists in the first quarter, a 41% over the same period of 2022

In the first three months of the year of the tourist spending increased 44.7%, compared to 2022, reaching 17.201 million. Héctor Gómez “These data show that 2023 has so far been an extraordinary year for tourism, the result of a policy aiming to provide quality without sacrificing quantity”.

Industry | 5/3/2023

The Government apporves €98.5 M to fund technology companies, SMEs and young entrepreneurs

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism will allocate these funds to the National Company for Innovation (ENISA), which will manage the lines of funding through participative loans. It is estimated that these three lines of funding will cover about 470 business projects that are induced investment of more than 170.4 million euros.

Industry | 4/25/2023

The European Commission authorizes €450 M of aid for industrial companies with a high consumption of gas

The aim of this aid is to compensate for additional costs of companies in 2022 caused by the extraordinary increase in natural gas prices. The EC decision will allow the publication of the regulatory bases for aid and the subsequent processing of the call for applications in 2023

Trade | 4/20/2023

Exports up to February reach a new record high with an interannual increase of 12.8%

Héctor Gómez “Trade flows remain at historical figures, which points to the excellent position of our companies in international markets ” The trade deficit was reduced to 2.465 billion in February

Industry | 4/20/2023

The Government intends to make available a line of guarantees of at least €150 million to facilitate Abengoa's internationalisation.

According to its proposal, Cox Energy is committed to keeping the 9,505 jobs, to continue productive activity for at least the next three years and maintain the business headquarters in Seville.

Tourism | 4/18/2023

The government has authorized works for the new headquarters of the World Tourism Organization

The new headquarters of the world tourism organization is housed in the exhibition and conference centre of Madrid. The decision will help to bid, the extension of building B of the Palacio de Congresos of 24.6 million euros.

Tourism | 4/18/2023

Spain exceeds 6.5 million international visitors in march, 30% more than a year ago

Héctor Gómez: "Spanish tourism in the first quarter is on track to break all records. Spain can boast of having a robust and modern tourism sector, which is a source of wealth and our best letter of introduction as a country." This month of March had the second highest number of international travelers since 2000

Industry | 4/13/2023

Distribution of aid for the reduction of working hours without salary cuts begins

For minister Héctor Gómez, “this pilot programme offers industrial SMEs a new way to organize and reduce their working hours without affecting wages and thus improve their business results”.

Industry | 4/4/2023

The Government approves €450 M for the Arcelor circular hydrogen project in Asturias

This grant is part of the Decarbonisation Plan for Recovery, Transformation and Resilience.

Tourism | 4/3/2023

Spain receives 8.5 million international tourists during the first two months of 2023, 50 per cent more than a year ago

The tourism expenditure is, with maximum 5.326 million euros in february, exceeding the prepandemia expenditure Héctor Gómez “ being a beginning of exceptional year for tourism, on the brink of Holy Week in which we anticipate its fight occupation and expense ”

Industry | 3/23/2023

Industry and the Galicia Automotive Technology Center have signed a collaboration agreement to launch the future Spanish Network of Laboratories for Autonomous and Connected Vehicles

Reyes Maroto “Spain wants to have a leading role in the design and development of autonomous and connected vehicles. This agreement aims to promote a public-private collaboration model to drive connected, autonomous, sustainable and safe mobility”.

Industry | 3/23/2023

The Agri-Food PERTE has received 22 tractor projects worth €755M

Reyes Maroto “These data confirm that the public-private collaboration model promoted by the PERTE is a suitable instrument for attracting industrial projects to transform the agri-food sector, with a programme that prioritises SME participation”.

Tourism | 3/23/2023

Employment in tourism sees record high in February, with 2.46 million employees registered with Social security

Reyes Maroto "These data confirm the tourism sector's excellent start to the year, with a full recovery of employment and unbeatable perspectives for Holy Week"

Tourism | 3/22/2023

Rosana Morillo highpghts the joint work of the government, the rest of the pubpc administration and social partners to transform Tourism and strengthen Spain's brand

The data on international visitors, expenditure, balance of payments and social security affipation show an almost complete recovery three years after the Covid-19 pandemic Morillo underpned that the State had pledged over €25,000 milpon to the sector's recovery and would earmark another €3,400 to drive its sustainabipty and digitization

Industry | 3/20/2023

The Government provides €200,000 for the El Bierzo agro-industrial park feasibility study

Reyes Maroto "El Bierzo's socio-economic development is a priority for the Spanish Government. This project will promote new activities and employment using the region's own resources"

Tourism | 3/20/2023

Reyes Maroto announced that Turespaña will be responsible for carrying out the second phase of work on the Leon Parador

The government has invested €23 million to promote the province's tourism and commercial sector over the past three years

Industry | 3/14/2023

The government has authorized calls valued at €2,069M, 50% of the earmarked funds

Reyes Maroto “The PERTE for electric and connected vehicles has become an essential tool to make Spain a global benchmark in electro-mobility and attractive place for new investment ”.

Industry | 3/14/2023

The Government approved €15M to create 12 Digital Innovation Centres in Spain

Reyes Maroto: “These centres will contribute to the digitapzation of our SMEs, to improve their competitiveness and help generate employment, especially for young people and women”

Industry | 3/14/2023

The Government approves €244M in aid for the electro-intensive industry

Reyes Maroto: “Since 2018, we have mobilized over €662 million in state aid to help 960 production plants, demonstrating the government's commitment to this major industry ”.

Trade | 3/13/2023

Spain seeks to speed up EU trade agreements with Mercosur, Chile and Mexico

Xiana Méndez “Latin America is an essential partner for the EU to tackle the current challenges of international trade”.

Industry | 3/6/2023

Reyes Maroto “The Alliance strengthens public-private collaboration to facilitate investment in the automotive sector”

The PERTE for electric and connected vehicles has mobilized €2,069 million, 50% of the earmarked funds.

Tourism | 3/3/2023

Spain returns to prepandemic figures, with 4.1 milpon international tourists in January

Expenditure increased by 71.7% compared to January 2022 Maroto: “These extraordinary data show that tourism will be one of the drivers of the Spanish economy this year”

The Ministry | 3/2/2023

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism joins the celebrations of Semana de la Administración Abierta (Open Gov Week)

A global initiative driven by Open Gov Week. The aim is to bring governements closer to citizens, based on the principles of transparency, accountability, participation, public integrity and collaboration.

Trade | 2/27/2023

The Government mobilized 258 million euros in 227 projects to improve the competitiveness of the business sector

The Ministry has assigned 62% of total investments under the Recovery Plan for the period 2021-23. The four lines of state aid are aimed at sustainable markets, markets in rural areas, commercial activity in tourist areas and the Tech Fund.

Tourism | 2/24/2023

The Secretary of State for Tourism participated in the opening of the 18th edition of the International Ornithological Tourism Fair

The event, organized by the Regional Government of Extremadura, brought together more than 100 exhibitors from the tourism sector in the Monfragüe National Park (Caceres) and saw more than 16,000 visitors in its last edition

Branch of industry and tourism | 2/24/2023

Pablo Garde “The Government has made a firm commitment to the use and protection of industrial property rights”

Maria José Pérez-Barco from ABC Empresa and Víctor Moreno from Expansión Jurídico have been awarded first prize in the categories of “Economic and General Media” and “Legal Media and Supplements”, respectively.

Industry | 2/23/2023

The Spanish "Activa Industria" business advisory programme is going international

The Inter-American Development Bank has selected Spanish company Izertis to implement this programme based on the methodology developed by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. This initiative is the result of successful collaboration between the two countries under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2020.

Tourism | 2/22/2023

Maroto will drive the LGBTI+ Tourism strategy, alongside companies and associations from the community

The Ministry, the International Association of LGBTI+ Tourism and Queer Destinations company agree that the initiative is in line with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda

Industry | 2/21/2023

Industry has granted 507 participation loans for more than €83.8M to finance SMEs and entrepreneurs in 2022

By sector, ICT continues to lead the way in terms of loans approved, with 36% of applications and 35% of investments, for a total of €37 million. Reyes Maroto “The successful implementation and the number of projects funded shows that participation loans are a key resource to bolstering the creativity and talent of the entrepreneurial ecosystem”.

Industry | 2/17/2023

Reyes Maroto "We want Spain to lead the green industrial revolution at European level"

With public investment of €3.1 billion, the project envisages a total investment of up to 11.8 billion. It has created the PERTE Alliance for decarbonisation, an area of participation and dialogue between the public and private sectors to achieve the objectives of this PERTE.

Tourism | 2/17/2023

January saw a return to prepandemic numbers of international air passengers travelling to Spain with 5.2 million

Reyes Maroto “These data show an excellent start to the year and consolidate a trend of international tourism recovery which will help the full recovery of the tourism sector during the year. Most passengers came from the United Kingdom (18.2%), Germany (11.8%) and Italy (10.2%). Catalonia saw the greatest year-on-year increase with 102% more arrivals.

Tourism | 2/16/2023

The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival earns the title of Fiesta of International Tourist Interest

Maroto "This well-deserved award is the fruit of extensive collective work to reinvent the tradition of bringing new and old together, an open festival in the 21st century which has managed to connect with younger generations. This title will help boost the popularity and international appeal of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and promote quality tourism”.

Industry | 2/16/2023

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism and the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office attend the Transfiere trade fair to support innovation and entrepreneurship

Under Secretary Pablo Garde led the delegation of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, accompanied by the Director-General of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, Aida Fernández and CEO of ENISA, José Bayón. Garde “The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has been committed to making innovation the backbone of industry and entrepreneurship in Spain over the past few years. A clear example of this has been the impetus of the PERTE”

Tourism | 2/15/2023

Social Security contributors in the tourism sector grew 7.4% in January to 2.4 million employees

Reyes Maroto “Affiliation data are beginning to confirm our good forecasts for 2023, the year of full tourism recovery in Spain” It is the twentieth consecutive month of year-on-year growth in affiliation, a further symptom of recovery from the pandemic

Trade | 2/14/2023

Reyes Maroto calls for corporate responsibility at the OECD to reduce inequality and generate social welfare

Maroto "Our citizens are losing purchasing power. Meanwhile, big multinational companies continue to increase their profits. It is time for our economy and our policy to focus on what really matters: the welfare of our citizens" The minister met with the OECD Deputy Secretary-General, the US Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, and the Irish Trade Minister

Industry | 2/9/2023

Reyes Maroto "From the government we reiterate our commitment to ensure production capacity and employment at the Alcoa plant in San Cibrao"

The agreement signed last Monday extends the period of labour protection for workers in the aluminium factory, guarantees a time period by which electrolysis should become operational and envisages an additional investment of $88 million in the plant.

Tourism | 2/2/2023

Reyes Maroto “The extraordinary recovery of international tourism in 2022 shows the strength of the sector and the effectiveness of the measures taken by the government”

In 2022, 71.6 milpon international tourists visited Spain, spending €87,061 milpon, 86% and 95% respectively compared to the year 2019. In 2022, Spain exceeded its prepandemic figures for average spending and length of stay of international travellers.

Tourism | 2/1/2023

The third call for apppcations for Plans for Sustainabipty in Tourism Destinations endowed with 478 milpon euros has opened

Local organisations and autonomous communities who want to opt for these funds are required to submit projects between now and 6 March Local organisation's initiatives will be assessed jointly by the Secretary of State for Tourism and the Autonomous Governments

Trade | 1/31/2023

The Government allocates €104.52M to 119 projects to modernize town markets

The projects selected will receive support from the Next Generation EU funds aimed at improving business competitiveness These pnes are part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resipence Plan, providing a total of €415 milpon to support trade between 2021 and 2023 They shall be distributed among all communities and will be managed by local governments

Industry | 1/30/2023

The European Commission communicated to the government that the ‘pre-notification phase’ of the Arcelor project has been successfully completed

Reyes Maroto “This is excellent news that supports the good work of the government to be global leaders in industry decarbonisation and confirms ArcelorMittal's commitment to invest in Asturias and be a leader in innovation and decarbonisation for its activity in the world. The last notification phase has begun and we hope it will be successfully adopted in the coming weeks”.

Tourism | 1/27/2023

The government and the Autonomous Communities agree to an investment of €478 M of European funds for sustainable tourism projects

Reyes Maroto “Our priority for this year is to increase the competitiveness of our tourist destinations and embrace a new model which is more sustainable and digital and increases its ability to reach the territory”. The Administration has allocated a total of €1.858 billion to projects and autonomous and local tourism projects over the last three years. Communities, municipalities and other local entities may submit their projects to Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism throughout the month of February.

Tourism | 1/18/2023

Spain closed 2022 with more than 80 million international passengers

In December there were 5.7 million international passengers, 95% of prepandemic levels Reyes Maroto "these data demonstrate the strength of the tourism sector and anticipate a record-breaking 2023, which will mark the final transition towards a quality tourist model"

Tourism | 1/17/2023

Reyes Maroto “Excellent tourism employment data are a measure of the sector's strong rebound in 2022”

Workers affiliated to the Social Security system grew 6.8% year-on-year (157,167 more employees). Tourism closed 2022 with over 2.4 million people in jobs, the best figure ever recorded

Industry | 1/16/2023

Spain and Slovakia strengthen relations in areas such as sustainable mobility and tourism

Reyes Maroto “With this visit we want to strengthen the government's commitment with Inobat's project, so that Spain, and, in particular, Valladolid, is chosen for the new plant. We have excellent human capital, top-class infrastructure and know-how in electric and connected mobility”. The Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism signs a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism with her counterpart Andrej Doležal to strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

Industry | 1/10/2023

The Government has appointed two commissioners for the Agrifood and Decarbonisation PERTES

Luis Ángel Colunga will be responsible for managing the PERTE for Industrial Decarbonisation. Jordi Carbonell will be responsible for coordinating the PERTE for the Agrifood sector.

The Ministry | 12/29/2022

Reyes Maroto: “In 2022, investments by the Ministry were the highest in the history, consolidating a change in our production model”

MINCOTUR has authorized investments of 4.212 billion euros from the recovery plan, 86% of the total allocated amount for the period 2021-22 The ministry has met 100% of their objectives set for this year The draft bill on Industry Law, and the Bases of the State Pact for Industry are two instruments to place Spanish industry at the forefront of the 21st century. To address the rising cost of power, targeted reductions in taxes were approved and 1.325 billion euros set aside for gas-intensive companies. During 2022 1.487 billion euros were earmarked for actions included in the Plan for the Modernisation and Competitiveness of the tourism sector, an unprecedented volume of resources for tourism policy.

Industry | 12/27/2022

The Government approves €950 M for gas-intensive businesses and maintains subsidies for electro-intensive companies and extends the relief contract.

Reyes Maroto: “Through these subsidies, we reinforce our commitment to the sectors most affected by the war in Ukraine”.

Industry | 12/27/2022

The Government adopted the LOSS of industrial decarbonisation public investment of 3,100 M €

The project envisages a total investment of up to €11.8 B. Reyes Maroto: “This Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation fulfils the government's commitment to accompany industry in the decarbonisation process to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and improve efficiency with more sustainable processes that will help to improve their international competitiveness”.

Trade | 12/15/2022

Spanish exports increased by 26.3% up to October

Spanish exports mark a new record high, reaching 319,731 million during the first 10 months of 2022

Tourism | 12/14/2022

The Government approves 196 sustainable tourism projects, mobilizing €720 million in European funds

Reyes Maroto “These projects represent a step towards improving the competitiveness of our tourist destinations and a firm commitment to a new tourism model aligned with the challenges of sustainability, digitisation and the social and territorial cohesion” The Sectoral Conference also agrees that the priority for 2023 will be support for Sun, Beach and Blue tourism.

Trade | 12/9/2022

Reyes Maroto “This agreement will strengthen our ties with Chile as a strategic partner in the field of trade and investment”

Spain hopes that the modernization of this agreement will serve to accelerate the conclusion of agreements with Mexico and Mercosur. This is a very advanced agreement in the promotion of sustainable development and is a pioneer in the inclusion of commitments relating to gender equality.

Trade | 12/7/2022

Trade approved 118 projects with €104.28m in funding to boost competitiveness in the trade sector

The funds from the provisional resolution of the second call for commercial activities shall be distributed among all communities and will be managed by local governments. These lines of funding are part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, with a total of €415 million to support trade between 2021 and 2023.

Industry | 12/5/2022

Government authorizes €2,137m in loans to be granted to Airbus to finance the EUROMALE and TIGER projects

A total of €1,429m will be used to finance EUROMALE projects (drones) and €707m for the TIGER programme, benefiting facilities in Getafe, Seville, Cadiz and Albacete (Spain).

Industry | 12/5/2022

The Government adopts the Draft Industry Bill that aims to bring Spanish industry to the forefront of the twenty-first century

Reyes Maroto “This Bill is a commitment by the Government to an industrial policy in line with the digitalization, environmental sustainability and the circular economy, driving the industrial autonomy of our country.” The law will ensure jobs in industry, determining that beneficiary companies of public aid are required to maintain productive activity for at least five years, three for SMEs. It also addresses industrial promotion, the improvement of competitiveness, reindustrialización, digitalization, adaptation to climate neutrality, the strategic industrial autonomy, the momentum of industrial ecosystems and general interest projects, industrial security and quality and governance.

Tourism | 12/2/2022

Arrivals and spending of foreign tourists reached prepandemic levels in October

Reyes Maroto: “According to our forecasts, the trend of tourism recovery will continue over the last months of the year thanks to the reliability that Spain offers as a destination"

Tourism | 12/1/2022

Spain driving the design of a new European Agenda for Tourism Agenda 2030 in Europe

This agenda will boost sustainability in both the ecological and digital transitions of the European tourism ecosystem and strengthen its competitiveness Reyes Maroto “Spain has contributed to the significance of tourism in Europe in accordance with its economic and social weight”

Industry | 11/30/2022

Reyes Maroto attends the signing of the agreement between Navantia and the Ministry of Defence of Saudi Arabia for the construction of five ships

Maroto "This agreement is the fruit of intense work between the governments of both countries and is a very important step to ensure the workload at Navantia's shipyards, especially in San Fernando, during the coming years". Spain and Saudi Arabia are also strengthening their tourism cooperation with the aim of achieving sustainable tourism development in both countries.

Tourism | 11/30/2022

International flights to Spain reached prepandemic levels in December

Reyes Maroto “This is a sign of the confidence that the airline industry has in Spain”

Tourism | 11/29/2022

The government approves the territorial distribution of €720 million in 2022 Sustainability Plans

22 agreements from the ordinary call were also approved.

Industry | 11/25/2022

Industry provides €11M to 17 strategic projects for industrial transition in the pharmaceutical and medical devices sector

Cataluña and Castilla y León have been the most benefited autonomous communities

Industry | 11/24/2022

Industry opens tender to select the collaborating entities that will advise 3,300 SMEs in the 'Programa Activa Industria 4.0'

The EOI Foundation publishes the tender for an amount of €24.4 million as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan

Tourism | 11/24/2022

Spain leads an ambitious roadmap to adapt UNWTO to the tourism of the future

Reyes Maroto: “We need to define a new agenda within the framework of the UNWTO to be a guide for action for its member countries where we define shared objectives and programmes to move towards quality, sustainable, digital and inclusive tourism".

Industry | 11/23/2022

Industry awards 42.5 M€ in subsidies to 364 installations as part of the compensation mechanism for charges to electricity intensive consumers.

By sector, the largest amount corresponds to the chemical industry (22.8 per cent), followed by metallurgy (20.0 per cent), the manufacture of non metallic minerals (17.6 per cent) and the paper industry (16.2 per cent). By autonomous communities, those with the highest concentration of funds are Catalonia (22.6 per cent), Andalucía (14.3 per cent), the basque country (10.5 per cent) and Valencia (9.3 per cent).

The Ministry | 11/23/2022

Industry is releasing its annual campaign against counterfeiting

Reyes Maroto “We believe it is essential to raise public and consumer awareness about the negative consequences on the economy, employment and innovation, as well as the risk to users’ health and safety ”.

Tourism | 11/22/2022

Tourism will invest $20.3 million euros in the rehabilitation of National Heritage properties

Interventions will be carried out in Madrid city, Aranjuez, El Escorial, La Granja, the Almudaina Palace and the Yuste Monastery.

Tourism | 11/18/2022

Valencia will be the global focus of Smart Tourist Destinations

Over 1,200 professionals, government leaders and members of the academic community have signed up for the Conference The event is sponsored bygold Telefónica, ForwardKeys, GlobalOmnium; andbronze Salesforce; and institutional partners of the Regional Government of Valencia and Valencia Region Tourism

Tourism | 11/18/2022

Spain reached 8 million international air passengers in October, islands included, up 6% on 2019.

Overall recovery reaches 95% of the 2019 figures Reyes Maroto: “The data reflect a great increase in the recovery of air traffic”

Industry | 11/17/2022

Reyes Maroto visits Korean company, ILJIN Materials, which will receive €18.2 million from the PERTE VEC mechanism

ILJIN Materials is part of the Future Fast Forward project led by the Volkswagen and Seat Group. Reyes Maroto said, “This project highlights the attractiveness of Spain as an investment destination, and having Iljin Materials in Spain strengthens our business ecosystem to move towards new sustainable, connected mobility”. A MoU will be signed between CESCE and the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) to increase financial cooperation between Korea and Spain.

Tourism | 11/17/2022

Employment in the tourism sector saw the best October in its history

Over 2.5 million people working in tourism-related activities. Reyes Maroto said, “The tourism industry generates one in three new jobs, which demonstrates its decisive contribution to employment recovery in Spain.”

Trade | 11/10/2022

Reyes Maroto presents the 2022 National Domestic Trade Awards

The winners are the municipalities of Santander and Zumarraga, the Logroño company Santos Ochoa and the Association for the Promotion of the City of Vitoria-Gasteiz. MarotoThe awards recognize the companies and workers of the commercial sector who raise the shutters of their businesses every day

Tourism | 11/9/2022

Reyes Maroto presents a program to support historic heritage for tourism with a budget of €150m

According to pre-pandemic data, 14.5 million trips in 2019 were for cultural reasons So far €259m has been mobilized for the conservation, maintenance and restoration of places of cultural interest for tourism

Industry | 11/7/2022

Industry will devote €37.59m to the creation of a network of European digital innovation centres in Spain

Reyes Maroto: “The objective is to create 25 Digital Innovation Hubs and contribute to the digitalization of 1,253 PMEs. We want to improve their competitiveness and help create jobs, especially among young people and women ”. The congress has become a place for sharing information, raising awareness and discussing the experiences and challenges of the industry 4.0. This fifth edition is more international with Argentina joining as a guest country. This year, BIOLAN was awarded the IV Industria Conectada 4.0 National Award in the SME category and REPSOL in the large company category.

Tourism | 11/4/2022

Spain and Portugal approve a Cross-Border Tourism Strategy with sustainability as its central axis

The governments undertake to promote investment in tourist destinations and experiences on both sides of the border, making tourism a driver of sustainable development in the oldest and longest border region in the European Union Reyes Maroto: "The Spanish-Portuguese border has a unique identity, created by the history of the land, and offers some of the most genuine and unknown cultural, historical and scenic riches in South-West Europe. These symbols of Iberian identity should be fully enjoyed"

Tourism | 11/3/2022

The spending of international tourists in September approached pre-pandemic levels to reach 9.243 billion euros.

In September, Spain recovered 88% of 2019 arrivals Reyes Maroto “Spain as a destination is showing great resilience despite a climate of uncertainty, and the outlook for the rest of the year is positive”

Tourism | 10/27/2022

Fernando Valdés, awarded by the Asociación de Líneas Aéreas for his commitment to the sector

The Secretary of State for Tourism's drive for safe mobility during the pandemic acknowledged

Tourism | 10/26/2022

Sustainability and digitalisation, key topics at the 3rd World Congress on Smart Destinations in Valencia

More than 700 people have signed up for the conference, a month before it is held. The European Capital of Smart Toursim 2022 hosts the symposium on the 10th anniversary of the Smart Tourism Destination (DTI) model. The websitehttp :// www.smartdestinationsworldconference.org containas all the information on the conference.

Industry | 10/25/2022

Industry publishes the allocation of public grants for projects of the first call for applications for Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation for Electric and Connected Vehicles (PERTE VEC)

Reyes Maroto “The 10 projects financed in the first call for applications of the PERTE VEC show Spain's great potential to lead the electromobility movement in Europe”.

The Ministry | 10/25/2022

The ONCE dedicates its lottery ticket to the 30th anniversary of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office

On sale from 2 November, five million lottery tickets will bear the Office's image across the country

Tourism | 10/24/2022

The Promoting Body of the Smart Destination Platform is formed in Benidorm, which will be headquartered at INVAT TUR

Reyes Maroto “With this centre in Benidorm we reaffirm the government's commitment to the Valencian Community and Benidorm as laeding examples of our high quality tourism.” Today starts the work to develop this platform, which is meant to be crucial in the process of transformation of destinations and the tourism sector by facilitating access to technologies and digital solutions

Tourism | 10/22/2022

The minister Reyes Maroto officially opens the Parador of Costa da Morte

The Parador of Costa da Morte was created after the Prestige environmental disaster which took place in 2002. Two decades later it has become a leading light in sustainability and environmental conservation, and a source of economic, social and cultural development in this area of the Costa da Morte. Since the Parador opened on 25 June 2020 it has been one of the most highly rated, as well as most requested by clients, with an average occupancy rate of more than 90%. This year 10,713 rooms were sold and 13,597 meals served in its restaurant

Industry | 10/21/2022

Industry approves the final resolution of the electric and connected vehicles Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) with a public investment of 877.2 million euros.

Reyes Maroto "With the step we take today the government strengthens its commitment to the entire ecosystem of the Spanish automotive industry and with the development of new activities under the industrial value chain of electric and connected vehicles, moving forward in the goal of turning Spain the European leader of electromobility”. The total public funds committed to helping companies and individuals exceeds 2 billion euros. Companies are expected to begin recieving the money before the end of the year. In general, 90% of the total amount of the grant awarded to each beneficiary will be advanced.

Industry | 10/21/2022

Reyes Maroto “With the Naval Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE Naval) we demonstrate the government's commitment to promoting the Spanish naval industry”

The PERTE Naval Alliance has been created, an area of participation and dialogue between the public and private sector to to help the targets of this PERTE to be met. 1.46 billions euros are expected to be mobilised it will contribute to the creation of close to 3,100 quality jobs.

Tourism | 10/20/2022

Tourism presents the 8 lynchpins which will define the future Sustainable Tourism Strategy for Spain 2030

Work will focus on digitilisation, social and environmental sustainability, connectivity, innovation, capturing of talent and stand-out tourist destinations. Measures to comply with European committments on energy saving were also approached, and are now gathered in the + Energy Security Plan. (+SE)

Industry | 10/20/2022

Industry settles the call for applications for the PROFARMA 2021 Programme

The programme classifies companies according to their excellency in different aspects of industry, economics and research, development and innovation. Its goal is to encourage activities which bring greater added value such as investment in new industrial plants and new technologies, as well as fostering R & D & I. In the 2021 call for applications, ten phamaceutical companies were classified as “Excellent”.

Tourism | 10/20/2022

La llegada de 8,5 millones de pasajeros aéreos internacionales en septiembre confirma la intensa recuperación del turismo en España

• El nivel de pasajeros aéreos internacionales que recibió España el mes pasado es el 87,6% del nivel prepandemia
• Reyes Maroto: “Estos datos demuestran que, tras un verano extraordinario, las perspectivas para el otoño son positivas”

Tourism | 10/18/2022

Employment in toursim reaches the highest figure in the historical series for the month of September

In September the tourism sector exceeded 2.6 million social security affiliates, with 247,852 new affiliations and an interannual growth of 10.5% Tourism activity continues to lead employment creation in our country, providing 4 out of every 10 new social security affiliates and representing 13% of the total number of affiliates in the national economy. Reyes Maroto: “the historical figure acheived in September in employment in tourism shows that our economy has solid bases despite the context of uncertainty and inflation, and reinforces the role of tourism for the recovery of the economy and employment”

Industry | 10/17/2022

The Ministry of Industry signs a cooperation agreement with INOBAT AUTO to facilitate their establishment in Spain

The Slovakian company is carrying out a selection process to choose the site for its new mega factory in Europe, with an exepected investment of 3 billion euros and the creation of more than 2,000 direct jobs. Reyes Maroto "With this protocol we want to facilitate the arrival of new investments linked to the manufacturing of batteries that are needed to kick-start a new electric and connected mobility in Spain. The choice of Valladolid within the sites selected by INOBAT AUTO, specialized in R & D and manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles, is a firm commitment to our country as a hub of electromobility in Europe".

Industry | 10/11/2022

The +SE plan includes a new Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) for industrial decarbonisation and support for industrial energy efficiency

The project provides companies with a framework of support in facing high energy costs and accompanies them through the adoption of energy transition measures It reinforces support for electro-intensive consumers with more than 320 M€ The grant programme energy efficiency action in SMEs and large companies in the industrial sector increases by 100M€ The package of measures taken so far has meant a reduction of 23% in the bills of of SMEs and 18% for industry, the reduction rising to 20% in the case of electro-intensive consumers

Industry | 10/10/2022

Industry provisionally awards €48.4 million to 261 industrial cluster projects mobilising more than €71 million.

Catalonia, Aragon and Andalusia are the regions which benefit the most by number of projects and grants. By economic sector, agrifood and ICT are the sectors with the greatest number of approved projects.

The Ministry | 10/10/2022

The Ministry Of Industry, Trade, and Tourism, increases its 2023 budget by 21.4% to reach 10.031 billion euros

The 28% increase in the budget for the Plan for Recovery, Transformation and Resilience stands out, which rises to 6.258 B € . In the budget as a whole, industrial policy spending amounts to 2.077 billion euros, 21% of the total, trade, tourism and SME policy spending reaches 3.065 billion euros, 31% of the total, and R&D&I and digitalisation are budgeted at 4.875 billion euros, 49% of the total resources.

Industry | 10/6/2022

Ministers Ribera and Maroto support the re-industrialisation and just transition project of El Bierzo

TVITEC's project to create a glass production plant in Cubillos del Sil will involve an investment of some 180 million euros and 250 direct jobs, within the framework of a just transition due to the closure of mines and coal-fired power plants in El Bierzo The agreement of intent has been signed by MITECO, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, the regional government of Castile and León, the town councils of Ponferrada and Cubillos del Sil, the county council of León, Endesa, Enagás and TVITEC The project comes under the Just Transition Agreement of Bierzo-Laciana, and constitutes a major project for the re-industrialisation of El Bierzo, incorporating green hydrogen and other elements to significantly reduce industrial emissions compared to the primary production that previously had to be imported with high associated emissions.

Tourism | 10/4/2022

The spending of international tourists in Spain approached pre-pandemic levels in August

In August Spain recovered 87% of tourists compared to 2019 Reyes Maroto "Spain has experienced an extraordinary high season and we are approaching autumn without inflation and the uncertainty caused by the war hampering this recovery for the time being."

Tourism | 10/3/2022

The level of satisfaction of the tourists who visited Spain this summer was 96%

The range of leisure activities recieved the highest valuation (94%), followed by infrastructure (92%) North Americans, Ibero-Americans, the British and the Irish were the most satisfied groups. More than half (55%) expected to return in the next 12 months

Industry | 9/27/2022

Industry launches the first edition of the Programme to Enccourage Female Entrepreneurship ‘The Break’

This international programme aims to attract female talent and create one of the most active communitites of entrepreneurs in Europe. 140 women will participate in this edition, representing 22 European countries.

Industry | 9/26/2022

Industry provisionally approves €244 M in financial aid for industrial companies within the CO² compensation scheme

The number of beneficiary companies in this call for applications is 212, with Galicia being the Autonomous Community with the highest percentage of aid (18%), followed by Asturias (16%), and the Basque Country (15%). This programme was backed with 65 million euros, demonstrating the Government's commitment to the electro-intensive industry.

Tourism | 9/26/2022

The government invests 81 million euros in the historical heritage of Paradores (state operated hotels)

Work will be carried out on 39 Bienes de Interés Cultural (goods of cultural interest) and on the collection of monuments in the historic suburbs of Alcalá la Real (Jaén) The actions will benefit 12 Autonomous Communities, and the autonomous city of Ceuta

Tourism | 9/22/2022

Spain promotes cooperation in tourism with Japan

The two governments signed a new memorandum of understanding coinciding with the Expo Japan event, the country's largest sectoral fair in which Turespaña participates

Tourism | 9/20/2022

Turespaña seals its alliance with Korean Air to promote Spanish destinations

The agreement aims to increase the number or Korean tourists visiting Spain

Trade | 9/19/2022

Reyes Maroto to reinforce investment opportunitites for Spanish companies in Australia

The trip, of a marked economic character, includes a Spain - Australia business meeting to be attended by a score of Spanish companies; and the inauguration of the renewable energy storage system facilities operated by Naturgy near Canberra. The minister will arrive in Australia after attending the G20 Trade and Tourism ministerial meetings in Indonesia. At G20 Spain will promote a proposal agreed at the OECD High Level Meeting held in Ibiza to ensure a secure international travel environment and the interoperability of digital systems. /p>

Tourism | 9/14/2022

The 21st edition of tourism hosting courses gets underway

The course calendar and training plan are available at: https//www.turismo-formacion.com/

Industry | 9/12/2022

The Government convenes the Steel Roundtable to coordinate effective measures with the sector and the Autonomous Regions to guarantee industrial activity and its green and digital transition.

The government is dedicating more than 850M€ specifically to domestic electro and gas intensive industry to mitigate the effects of Putin's war. Reyes Maroto “We are preparing a proposal for a contingency plan with which we aim to achieve a European response in line with the needs of the biggest energy consumers, such as the steel industry.”.

Industry | 9/9/2022

The government supports industry in Castile and León with more than 244 M€ in four years

A total of 123 production plants in Castile and León have benefited. Reyes Maroto “The reindustrialisation of Castile and León is a priority for this Government. We have a strong industrial ecosystem in this community that must be supported and strengthened. Castile and León is going to be a main player in the green and digital transformation”.

The Ministry | 9/5/2022

Ribera and Maroto meet with the electro-intensive industry and the sectors of trade and tourism to advance the development of the Contingency Plan

The vice-president Teresa Ribera has evaluated the ability of these business sectors to collaborate on the design of the Plan and their support for the government's position in the negotiations that will take place on Friday in Brussels. The minister of industry, Reyes Maroto, recalled that "the aim is to protect our families and businesses by creating a series of measures in response to the socio-economic consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ”

Tourism | 9/1/2022

In July, Spain recovered 9 out of 10 international tourists compared to 2019

The average amount spent per traveller increased to 1,309 euros and the average visit length grew compared to prepandemic trips.

Tourism | 8/31/2022

Almost 200 projects applied for grants to digitise tourist destinations

Funding is predicted to reach 11 million euros

Tourism | 8/19/2022

The tourism sector continues to lead in job creation in July with 143,524 more people employed than last year.

In July, the number of people employed exceeded 2.7 million social security affiliates, and it was the fourth consecutive month in which 2019 figures were surpassed Social security affiliates in tourist activities were 13.3% of the domestic economy Reyes Maroto “The positive employment data shows that tourism will be one of the main sectors to contribute to the generation of employment and economic recovery this year ”

Tourism | 8/16/2022

A total of 121 projects compete for tourism research grants

The funding budget is one million euros

Tourism | 8/8/2022

Tourism accounts for half of all employment created in the last year

The number of people working in the tourism sector rose to 2.7 million in the second quarter, 0.8% more than in 2019, and came close to 3 million economically active workers. The unemployment rate sat at 8%, three point lower than that of the same period in 2019 y encadena cinco trimestres consecutivos de descensos interanuales. Reyes Maroto “The tourism sector boosts the national jobs market with intense, quality job creation”.

Industry | 8/3/2022

The Ministry of Industry has launched the “Startup Acceleration Programme” with the aim of supporting 6,100 entrepreneurs

The planned investemt of 42.8 millon euros comes from the fund for Recovery and Resilience The EOI Business School anticipates helping 6,100 startups until the end of 2023 with EU Next Generation funds.

Industry | 8/2/2022

Reyes Maroto: “We have protected the economic network while putting forward a more resilient, sustainable, digital and inclusive production model”

MINCOTUR authorized 4.6167 billon euros from the recovery plan, 65.3% of the assigned total The war response plan has earmarked 738 million euros to alleviate energy costs for our companies and large industrial consumers. The tourism sector has recovered more than 80% of pre-pandemic levels of arrivals and has exceeded the volume of expenditure.

Tourism | 8/2/2022

International tourists spent 35.769 billion euros in the first six month period, 89% of prepandemic levels.

Spain welcomed 30.2 million international travelers in the first six month period, recovering 80% of prepandemic levels The average amount of money spent per tourist was 1,205 euros and the average length of stay was 6.9 days, above the average of the same month in 2019. Reyes Maroto “The data show that, despite the context of international uncertainty, Spain maintains its competitiveness and a good pace of recovery and continues to be the preferred destination for millions of tourists.”

Industry | 8/1/2022

The government approves 98.5 M€ to boost innovative entrepreneurship in Spain

The loans from ENISA allow for the support of more than 600 business projects with an induced investment of around 218 million euros. For the minister Reyes Maroto “commitment to innovation is necessary to stimulate economic development and new business models”.

Industry | 8/1/2022

Industry publishes the rules governing Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) aid for the agri-food sector

The BOE publishes today the regulatory bases that establish the requirements for the granting of aid with a budget of 500 M€ for the period 2022-2023. Reyes Maroto: "with the step we are taking today, the Government is offering a historic opportunity to strengthen the agri-food industry and improve its competitiveness".

Industry | 7/29/2022

ArcelorMittal and trade unions are committed to speed up negotiations to achieve the new Industrial Plan of decarbonisation

The government encourages technological transformation of the company's sites with the aim of improving their competitiveness Representatives of steel group and trade union federations will meet again the first week of september

Tourism | 7/26/2022

Government allocates €35m to renovation and maintenance of historical and cultural heritage

Works will be undertaken at the Museo del Prado, the Reina Sofía, the National Library and various castles.

Tourism | 7/22/2022

Reyes Maroto visits Manresa to see government's tourism investment on the ground

The Government has invested 5.2 million euros of funds into the Recovery Plan for the city

Industry | 7/21/2022

Industry selects two Spanish representatives to attend European Business Development Awards

The European Commission hosts these awards annually to give visibility and exposure to outstanding entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Industry | 7/20/2022

Government signs collaboration protocol with Envision for four projects and planned investment of 3.8 billion euros

Reyes Maroto: “three inland municipalities in Spain will benefit from the creation of more than 4,000 direct green jobs and an industrial activity committed to energy transition and bridging the digital divide”.

Tourism | 7/18/2022

Spain received 8.2 million international visitors to reach 86% of pre-pandemic levels

The Canary and Balearic Islands lead the recovery, boosted by the return of British tourists

Industry | 7/13/2022

Industry approves three new projects for 13.2 million euros through the Fund to Support Productive Industrial Investment

The implementation of projects from the companies Monterreina Comunicación, Mecanizados Lerun, and Aluman Sistemas and will lead to a total investment of 17.65 million euros and the creation of 48 jobs. Reyes Maroto: “This Fund is proving to be an effective funding tool for strengthening our industrial sector”.

Tourism | 7/11/2022

Spain is committed to food and wine as a tool for international tourist competitiveness

The national food and wine tourism plan, which falls within the Plan for the modernization and competitiveness of the tourism sector, will have an investment of 68.6 million euros. It aims to convert the body of knowledge, know-how, arts and crafts that enable healthy eating and drinking into sustainable and integrated tourism experiences throughout the territory. En 2019, 2 in 10 tourists who visited Spain took part in activities related to gastronomy or wine.

Tourism | 7/8/2022

Spain and the OECD drive a multilateral framework to ensure an safe environment for international travel

The 36 countries and international organizations involved have supported the need to ensure the global interoperability of COVID-19 certificates. The Government gives continuity to the international leadership of Spain in promoting safe travel .

Trade | 7/5/2022

The Government launches a new call with 105 million euros of aid to enhance the business sector

Shall be made available in three areas of sustainable urban markets, sustainable markets in rural areas and strengthening of the commercial sector in tourist areas Subsidies will be managed by local governments may apply up to two months after the BOE

Tourism | 7/4/2022

Spending by tourists in May reached prepandemic levels

Spain received 7 million international tourists who spent more than 8 billion euros

Industry | 7/1/2022

The Ministry of Industry awards €8M to 59 industrial cluster projects that will mobilise €12M

The IT sector stands out with 11 projects, and Environment/Energy with 11 other projects. This is followed by agri-food sector, with 9 projects, the automotive sector with 5, and industrial machinery with 5 additional projects. Catalonia, Aragon and Andalusia are the communitites which benefit the most by number of projects and grants.

Tourism | 6/30/2022

Spain recovers 9 out of 10 international bookings during the summer season

The return of foreign tourists grows stronger

Tourism | 6/29/2022

Spain nominated Alquézar, Rupit and Guadeloupe for the the Best Tourism Villages programme

The initiative recognises towns which are an outstanding example of rural tourism and commitment to sustainability

Tourism | 6/28/2022

Tourism approves 28 Destination Sustainability Plans with an investment of €61.4 million

The projects correspond to the call for applications and have been agreed with the Autonomous Regions and local authorities

Industry | 6/28/2022

Industry launches a new €50M call for applications to support innovative enterprises

Interested companies have 20 working days to submit their applications. Reyes Maroto “The Innovative Business Groupings programme shows that European funds are already reaching SMEs ”.

Industry | 6/27/2022

The Spanish Industry High-Level Forum approves the bases of the State Pact for Industry

Next Wednesday, 29 June, four representatives of the forum will present the bases to the Industry Committee of the Congress of Deputies. The bases include several lines of action, including sustainability, digitalisation, innovation, human capital and training, financing, energy, logistics and the internationalization of industry.

Industry | 6/25/2022

The Government expanded the line of direct aid to gas intensive industry by €250 M

The impact of the measure has the potential to reach some 4,100 companies, approximately 97% of which are SMEs

Industry | 6/24/2022

The Government launches the first call for applications for the Naval Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation

This call for applications is endowed with €30 million and the deadline for submitting applications is 5 September 2022. This technological plan will be strengthened by the convening of the industrial plan of the Naval Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation , which is scheduled for September and which will have €200 million. Reyes Maroto “Our goal with this Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation is to generate important economic and social returns, as well as strengthening our country's industrial capacities, contributing to the technological and digital development of the shipbuilding sector and the creation of quality qualified employment”.

Tourism | 6/20/2022

Tourism provided 4 out of 10 jobs created in May

The tourism sector has created 409,615 jobs in the past year

Industry | 6/17/2022

A total of 24 companies in the health sector present R+D+i and sustainability projects to the value of 46 M€

73% of applications relate to Research, Development and innovation. Catalonia and Castile and León are the autonomous communities with the largest number of applications.

Trade | 6/17/2022

The minister Maroto welcomes the agreements on fisheries, vaccines, and food reached at the WTO

The ministerial declaration reflects the importance of issues related with the participation of women and SMEs in trade, and the launch of a programme for working on vulnerable economies. Reyes Maroto: “The outcome of this Ministerial Conference represent a boost for the WTO, which has been strengthened in its role as guarantor of the multilateral trade order, and pave the way for the modernisation of this institution.”

Tourism | 6/17/2022

In May Spain received $7.7 million international travellers, 87% of prepandemic numbers

The islands have levels of recovery exceeding 95% due to the return of British tourists

Tourism | 6/16/2022

The Easter of cádiz, declared festivity

The representation of Passion, carving of great artistic value and a distinctive load the steps made in the festival, next to a unique event

Trade | 6/16/2022

The spanish exports amount to $120.925 M €until april, a new record

Merchandise exports accounted for $a 23.2 per cent in the first four months of the year. The spanish exports grow with greater force than those of our main trading partners.

Tourism | 6/14/2022

The government grants €3 million to complete work on the Parador de Ibiza by 2023

The emergence of archaeological sites which will be exhibited in the Castle has conditioned the progress of the work.

Tourism | 6/13/2022

975 organisations apply for Tourism Experiences Spain grants

With the aim of improving the range of experiences that Spain offers its visitors and attracting quality tourism, the first call for applications has a budget of 26 million.

Trade | 6/12/2022

Reyes Maroto “It is necessary to push for the reform of the WTO to address current challenges of international trade”

Spain supports the movement towards developing new standards and monitoring compliance with the same so that the WTO can continue playing an important role as guarantor in trade which is open, transparent, fair, and rules-based

Tourism | 6/3/2022

Tourism launches a participatory process with the sector to develop Sustainable Strategy 2030

It will be the roadmap defining the model to be followed after the implementation of the European funds of the Recovery Plan.

Tourism | 6/2/2022

The term tourism opens to apply for support to the digitization of companies

A budget of eur 25 million for the development and implementation of innovative technologies

Industry | 6/2/2022

A total of 151 companies from the manufacturing industry present R+D+i projects worth 270 million euros

29% of applications relate to the line of innovation in sustainability and efficiency. Catalonia and The Valencian Community were the autonomous communities with the largest number of applications, a total of 69 and 23, respectively.

Tourism | 6/1/2022

Spain recovers 85% of its international visitors in April and total spending is close to prepandemic levels

Reyes Maroto: "Holy week consolidated the trend for the sector's rapid and intense recovery, despite the uncertainty of the war”. The average amount of money spent per tourist exceeds prepandemic levels, even after the effects of inflation are discounted.

Tourism | 5/30/2022

The government is investing 35 million euros in the maintenance and renovation of historical heritage for tourist use

This investment is part of the Tourism Modernisation and Competitiveness Plan financed with European funds The projects for refurbishment, restoration or renovation will affect the Museum of Tarragona and the Museum of Caceres; the castles of Sagunto (Valencia), Adsubia (Alicante), Santed (Zaragoza); the city walls of Zamora and Burgo de Osma (Soria); and the National Library, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, and the Museo Nacional del Prado, all part of the Paisaje de la Luz in Madrid

Industry | 5/25/2022

Industry and ArcelorMittal advance in the decarbonisation plan for plants in Asturias and the Basque Country

The predicted investments will make it possible to maintain the industrial capacities of its plants in Spain Reyes Maroto “Spain wants to be the core for innovation and de-carbonizing ArcelorMittal activity in the world"

Industry | 5/25/2022

Industry and the General Council of Spanish Lawyers collaborate to support entrepreneurs

The Entrepreneur Service Points Network (Red PAE) currently consists of almost 3,800 service points, of which almost 3,000 are private and 800 are public.

Industry | 5/24/2022

The Government approves 244 million Euros in aid for electro-intensive industry

In the 2022 call for proposals, grants increased by 36% compared to last year, reaching the maximum level authorised by the European Commission. For the minister Maroto, these subsidies allocated to offset the costs of indirect CO₂ show the government's commitment to big industry

Industry | 5/23/2022

A total of 116 companies present projects for the 'Active Funding' programme to support industrial digitalisation amounting to €64M

The 129 projects submitted cover advanced data processing, artificial intelligence, simulation in industry, augmented reality, and robotics, among others. Catalonia was the autonomous community with the largest number of applications, with a total of 60, followed by Andalusia, with 15.

Tourism | 5/21/2022

Non-EU travelers will be able to enter Spain with a negative test as of today

Reyes Maroto: "This is good news, long-awaited by the tourism sector,  which facilitates the arrival of tourists from outside the EU for the high season while guaranteeing safe mobility." "The new phase of the pandemic allows us to relax the health requirements for entry into Spain, putting non-EU travelers on a par with those of the EU and associated Schengen countries," said the minister .

Tourism | 5/19/2022

Employment in tourism exceeded prepandemic levels for the first time with 2.5 million social security affiliates

Tourism provides 42% of jobs created in the past year with 465.978 new affliates

Tourism | 5/18/2022

In April, Spain recovered 85% of pre-pandemic international passengers

The number of passengers arriving in the Balearic and Canary Islands almost reached 2019 levels

Trade | 5/17/2022

Exports increased by 23.9% in the first quarter of 2022

Exports in March rose 17.1% year-on-year to €33,090 million, a record high for any given month. Imports rose 31.6% year-on-year to €37,732 million, also a record high for any given month.

Tourism | 5/13/2022

Applications open for grants for the digitisation of tourist destinations

Tourism mobilises 11 million euros of Next Generation EU funds.

Industry | 5/10/2022

Trade announces the 4th edition of the National Awards for Connected Industry 4.0

The deadline for nominations is 6 June. The awards will be presented in two categories: large companies and industrial SMEs.

Trade | 5/9/2022

A delegation of companies from the Motion Picture Association of the USA visits Spain to learn about opportunities in the Spanish audiovisual ecosystem.

This activity is part of the 'Spain, Audiovisual Hub of Europe' Plan, launched by the Government to consolidate this strategic sector in line with the Digital Spain agenda and the deployment of the Recovery Plan. The Queen presides over the ceremony that marks the start of the mission's work, which includes conferences, institutional meetings, site visits and meetings with companies, technicians and Spanish talent

Tourism | 5/5/2022

The average spending of tourists in March beats prepandemic levels

The average amount spent is €1,257, which is more than the €1,068 average of March 2019 and the total amount spent is more than $5 billion, 84% of the prepandemic amount In March 4 million international travellers came to Spain, 71% of the precovid number

Tourism | 5/4/2022

Tourism opens the application period for research grants

Aimed at non-profit organizations that study how to improve destinations' competitiveness

Tourism | 5/3/2022

The Government authorises the territorial distribution of 100M € to adapt local trade to new technologies

Andalusia, Madrid, Catalonia and Valencia are the communities to receive the most aid

Industry | 5/3/2022

The Government updates the CO² financial support mechanism for big industry

This financial support is key for the industrial sector as it improves its competitiveness and reinforces industrial capacities and employment. The European Commission reported in March an estimated budget for Spain of 2.9 billion euros of aid for CO² 2021-2030.

Tourism | 4/27/2022

Spain supports the temporary suspension of Russia as a member of the World Tourism Organization

Reyes Maroto: “Putin’s military offensive is an attack on the founding principles of United Nations and the values represented by tourism, such as peace, prosperity and universal respect, and the observance of human rights ”.

Industry | 4/27/2022

Industry extends the deadline for submission of proposals to the Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation of Electric and Connected Vehicles

Grants can be applied for until 17 May 2022

Trade | 4/22/2022

Trade discusses the impact of the new Russia sanctions package with the Spanish business sector

The Secretary of State for Trade met with companies to provide an update on the measures adopted due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Industry | 4/20/2022

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism presents the new Industry Law for public consultation

Reyes Maroto invites all economic and social agents "to contribute their ideas for the future Industry Law, which is a government commitment that responds to the urgent need to strengthen the industrial autonomy of our country”.

Industry | 4/19/2022

The Ministry of Industry improves the access terms to be considered electro-intensive consumer

Businesses that meet the requirements may request a consumer electro-intensive certificate from tomorrow

Tourism | 4/19/2022

Tourism regains pre-pandemic employment levels with nearly 2.4 million affiliates in March

Those affiliated in tourism activities account for 12.1% of the total number of affiliates in the national economy. Reyes Maroto “Even before an extraordinary Easter week, tourism employment is close to full recovery in March two years after the biggest crisis in its history”

Trade | 4/18/2022

The spanish exports grew until february 28.3 per cent, reaching a new record

The spanish exports in the month of february 2022 increase over 27 per cent — a record for one month of february. Foreign trade english continues to grow faster than many other european economies.

Industry | 4/13/2022

The Ministry of Industry launches the financial aids ‘Active Funding’ with €140 M to support the digital transformation of the industry

The thematic areas of the call cover advanced data processing, artificial intelligence, the manufacturing simulation, augmented reality and robotics, among others

Industry | 4/7/2022

Industry and CESCE present policies to ensure the bilateral contracts of the electro-intensive industry

The Spanish Guarantee Reserve Fund for Electro-intensive Entities (FERGEI) is awarded 200M€

Trade | 4/6/2022

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism confirms that Spanish companies strictly comply with sanctions imposed on Russia

The Secretary of State for Trade is holding regular meetings to guide the companies that are established in Russia and Ukraine

Industry | 4/6/2022

Industry launches the Support for Industrial Entrepreneurship Programme aimed at industrial SMEs

It will channel a total of 75 millon euros from Recovery Funds and benefit more than 1500 SMEs. It will be implemented through CERSA (the Spanish Refinancing Company), MGSs and main credit agencies.

Industry | 4/5/2022

The application window for direct aid for the gas-intensive sector is now open

125 million in direct aid for gas intensive companies, benefiting some 1,600 companies, 88% of which are SMEs.. During Minister Reyes Maroto's visit to the Coverings 2022 trade fair in Las Vegas, she pointed out that "it is important to continue to draw attention to and strengthen the ceramics sector internationally. And the USA plays an important role in this as it is the number one destination for Spanish ceramic exports.

Tourism | 4/4/2022

In February Spain recovered 71% of the number of international tourists before the pandemic

In February 3.2 million international travellers came to Spain, spending 3,757M €, 78% of the pre-pandemic amount. Reyes Maroto: “This Easter week we hope to reach 80% of the number of interantional tourists we welcomed in 2019”

Tourism | 4/1/2022

Spain, among the world's most sought-after destinations for Easter Week

Reyes Maroto “ in April we anticipate that around 80% of the number of international tourists we received in 2019 will visit us ”. Today is the opening of the extraordinary call for 2022 Tourism Sustainability Plans in destinations with 720M €.

Tourism | 3/31/2022

The Night of the Drums in Mula, declared a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest

This is one of the most unique and deeply-rooted cultural events in this Murcian town. Every Holy Wednesday drums are beaten uninterruptedly for 16 hours

Tourism | 3/29/2022

The government and Autonomous Communitites agree on a 720M euro investment in tourist destinations

Plans for Tourism Sustainability will set aside 50 million for food and wine projects. Reyes Maroto “We continue to improve the competitiveness of our tourist destinations throughout the territory, both on the coast, and in our inland cities and towns”. 170M euros will be distributed among the Autonomous Communities to finance energy efficiency projects and circular economies in tourist accommodation.

Industry | 3/29/2022

The Government allocates close to 500M € to alleviate the effects of Putin's war on national industries that are big consumers of gas and electricity

225M € are allocated to protect industries that are big consumers of gas reducing tolls by 80% for 600 big consumers. 125 M € in direct aid is destined for companies that are big consumers of gas, benefitting more than 1,600 enterprises, of which 88% are SMES. The tender of 73.6M € is authorised to compensate high electricity bills. Aid is increased for the compensation of CO2 emission costs by €65 million.

Tourism | 3/29/2022

Reyes Maroto presents “ SpainFoodNation ” a new programme to promote Spanish gastronomy in the world

The “ Restaurants from Spain ” quality label distinguishes more than 100 establishments across the globe that offer quality authentic Spanish cuisine, with a unique and distinghuished image. Reyes Maroto “Spain is a world leader in gastronomy because Spanish gastronomy is based on produce, talent and innovation and "SpainFoodNation" will help to strengthen this leadership”.

Trade | 3/23/2022

Maroto discussed the impact of war in Ukraine with the commercial distribution sector

In the context of discussions about the National Response Plan for the impact of the war

Industry | 3/18/2022

The call for submissions for Electric and Connected Vehicle Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transfromation has been published

Maroto highlights that “this project is an historic opportunity to turn the manufacture of electric and connected vehicles into a stimulating project to strengthen the automotive industry throughout the country. The automotive sector will play a leading role for recovery in Spain”.

Tourism | 3/17/2022

Employment in tourism increased by 305,246 employees in February

Membership grew in interannual terms for the ninth consecutive month to reach a total of 2,309,687 affiliated members

Industry | 3/16/2022

Industry supports the government's plan for Europe to reform the electricity market

Representatives of electricity and gas intensive industries associations and trade unions support the government's proposal to decouple Europe's gas pricing from electricity prices

Trade | 3/15/2022

The Government earmarks €100 million to adapt local trade to new technologies

This line of support, which will be managed directly by the Autonomous Communities, completes a package of 415 million for the modernisation and sustainability of the sector. The 2022 call for grant applications for sustainable urban markets, sustainable rural markets and strengthening trade in tourist areas will be published soon.

Tourism | 3/15/2022

The Government approves the distribution of 170 million euros among the Autonomous Communities to finance tourism businesses' energy efficiency projects.

The forecast for this year is that 2,622 tourist establishments will renew and improve their energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

Industry | 3/15/2022

The Government has approved a Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) for the naval industry that is expected mobilize 1.46 million euros

It is expected to contribute to the creation of approximately 3,100 quality jobs, mainly in peripheral regions, thus contributing to the demographic challenge policy. According to Reyes Maroto, “ with this PERTE the governement shows its commitment to the Spanish shipbuilding industry, a strategic sector that contributes to the industrial autonomy of Spain and Europe and enhances its diversification and sustainable, technological and digital development”.

Trade | 3/14/2022

Spain supports the isolation of Russia from the World Trade Organization

Our country supports a call to increase Russia's isolation in multilateral forums, as it did last week with the request of a special meeting of the World Trade Organization to suspend Russia

Tourism | 3/8/2022

Spain will support of Russia's supension as a member of the World Tourism Organization if Putin does not stop the war.

The decision will be taken in an emergency General assembly to be held in Madrid Reyes Maroto “ Russia, with its cruel and unjustified aggression towards Ukraine, is gradually becoming internationally isolated

Trade | 3/8/2022

Calviño and Maroto demand a greater role for women in international trade

With international leaders such as the ambassadors of United States and Canada, they discussed the challenges of and opportunities for eliminating the gender gap.

The Ministry | 3/4/2022

Turespaña cancelled its participation in the tourism trade fair of Moscow

The government of Spain, through Turespaña, works to search for alternatives to a possible lack of russian tourists this high season in our destinations more exposed to this market.

Tourism | 3/3/2022

Spain recovers in January 60% of the international tourists of 2020

Arrivals are up fivefold compared to last year

Trade | 3/1/2022

Albares Maroto and analyse the impact of war of Ukraine with spanish companies present in the area

The meeting, held at the new headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by a large business representation, headed by the Chairman of the CEOE, Antonio Garamendi.

Trade | 2/25/2022

The Ministry of Trade analyses the position of exportation businesses and associations that operate in Russia and Ukraine

Xiana Méndez “The government wants to facilitate and make available to companies affected by conflict all the mechanisms at our disposal”

Industry | 2/25/2022

The Industrial Climate Indicator reached a historic peak in February

The indicator rose 3.5% last month to 10.4 points. For the Minister Maroto “ these data confirm the positive trend in the industrial climate which is reflected in other economic indicators such as employment, which has regained pre-pandemic values ”.

Tourism | 2/25/2022

Bogota, the third city of Latin America is designated a Smart Tourist Destination

Colombia is the only Latin American country that already has two Smart Tourist Destinations, Bogota and Medellín, demonstrating its firm commitment to touristic transformation The addition of Bogota is a further step in the internationalisation of the Smart Tourist Destination model in Latin America.

Industry | 2/23/2022

Reyes Maroto “Spain will be the first European country to launch a training programme for the European Battery Academy”

This initiative forms part of the framework agreement signed in may 2021 between EOI and EIT InnoEnergy to train and requalify professionals in the industry. This programme is complemented with proceedings of the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation of Electric and Connected Vehicles (PERTE VEC)

Industry | 2/18/2022

The Ministry of Industry launches a new €8 million call for proposals to support innovative companies

The deadline for receipt of proposals will be open from 21 February to 18 March inclusive.

Trade | 2/17/2022

Spanish exports in 2021 reached a historic high, exceeding 316 billion euros

Exports of goods in Spain grew by 21.2% compared to 2020 and 9.1% compared to 2019, exceeding pre-pandemic levels Spanish exports are increasing across all sectors and growing faster than the rest of European economies The export base continued growing by 7% during the past year to more than 59,000 regular exporters, new historical record.

Tourism | 2/17/2022

Tourism reaches an agreement with the Autonomous Communities on a new version of regular Sustainability Plans

Reyes Maroto “ his programme represents the best example of collaboration among government agencies in the interests of competitiveness and quality for all our tourist destinations”.

Tourism | 2/17/2022

Closing figures for unemployment in the tourism sector in 2021 are below the pre-pandemic levels

The average unemployment rate in the tourism sector during the last quarter of 2021 was 10.1% compared to 12.1% in the same quarter of 2019 Employment in January grew in year-on-year terms for the eighth consecutive month with 232.614 new workers

Tourism | 2/16/2022

The period to apply for financial aid within programme Tourism Experiences Spain is open

This is the first call for a programme endowed with €100 million until 2023

Tourism | 2/11/2022

The Government relaxes health requirements to enter Spain for 12-17 year olds from non-EU states.

In many countries the vaccination of children under 18 has been comparatively recent, and in some cases it has not been possible to complete this phase. This situation means that families whose parents are vaccinated cannot not travel with their children.

Industry | 2/10/2022

Reyes Maroto meets with the CEO of Enertech for planned investments in Spain

The estimated impact of the investments of ENERTECH in spain more than eur 2.4 billion The prestige of spanish companies and the development of the recovery Plan drives the interest to foreign investments in Spain in sectors linked to renewable energies or the green economy

Industry | 2/9/2022

The Ministry of Industry awarded 20 million euros to the strengthening of industry clusters

44% of projects funded belong to information technology (ICT), environmental and energy sectors.

Industry | 2/8/2022

The Government approves PERTE to boost competitiveness, sustainability and traceability of agro-food sector

The Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation (PERTE)of the agro-food industry will support its sustainable economic growth, digitizing and territorial cohesion This PERTE is allocated to the agro-food chain, along with other measures such as the CAP Strategic Plan and the Recovery Plan, to grant it the financing and tools necessary to address the environmental, digital, social and economic challenges of the next decade With a contribution which amounts to 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the food and agriculture sector, the PERTE will have a minimum impact of €3 billion in national accounts, and also create and estimated of up to net 16,000 jobs

Tourism | 2/2/2022

International tourism closes 2021 with 64.4% increase in visitors and 76% increase in spending

31.1 million tourists visited Spain, up from 18.9 million in 2020, and spent 34.816 billion euros, up from 19.787 billion euros a year earlier. 2.9 tourists arrived in December compared to 648,989 in the same month in 2020. Reyes Maroto: "December has behaved better than expected and that allows us to meet the year-end forecasts that are very good if we take into account the uncertainty generated by Omicron, which has not had the expected negative impact."

Trade | 2/1/2022

Minister Reyes Maroto participates in the Spain Day at Expo Dubai 2020

The Minister accompanies the President of the Government, who begins his official trip to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. Reyes Maroto will participate in the Spain-UAE business meetings and will hold bilateral meetings with the Mubadala fund, the airline 'Emirates' and with the main Emirati tour operators. The official delegation also includes the Secretary of State for Trade, Xiana Méndez, and the director general of Turespaña, Miguel Sanz.

Tourism | 1/31/2022

The Governments of Spain and the Canary Islands activate the campaign for travel vouchers to La Palma

With a joint budget of 9.5 million euros, they will also foster the scheduling of national and international flights to the Isla Bonita

Tourism | 1/28/2022

The Carnival of Badajoz, declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest

Fernando Valdés: "These celebrations add value to our tourist image abroad and are a powerful attraction to attract visitors outside the high season"

Tourism | 1/20/2022

The Secretary of State for Tourism and the FEMP present the SICTED awards for tourism quality

They recognise the efforts of destinations and their tourism agents in continuous improvement and the search for excellence

Trade | 1/20/2022

International trade hits record highs in November

Exports increased by 22.6% year on year, until the 30.309 million monthly peak. Imports increased by 36.3% year on year, until the 34.516 billion, surpassing any previous record.

Tourism | 1/18/2022

FITUR 2022, showcase of the new spanish tourist model

Maroto appear during the days of the international strategies to strengthen the spanish tourist leadershipThe programmes and projects will be based on three axes transformation through experiences, digitization and evolution towards sustainability

Tourism | 1/13/2022

Aid to digitize convened destinations on the Camino de Santiago

Earmarked eur 5 million under the national Plan Xacobeo 2021-22 Tourist

Tourism | 1/12/2022

Tourism launches aid to digitize the DTI network

A budget of eur 6 million to local entities to incorporate the technologies that would help them attract tourists and improve your experience

Tourism | 1/11/2022

Tourism launches the first call for the Experiencias España programme with 26 million euros

The deadline for submission of requests will open on 15 february 2022

Tourism | 1/10/2022

Tourism allocated 25 million to digitize sector enterprises

The first call for applications for grants for the development and implementation of innovative technological projects is launched

Tourism | 1/10/2022

Convened subsidies for the generation of scientific knowledge applied tourism

Aimed at investigating agencies, non-profit research on improving competitiveness in destinations

Industry | 1/7/2022

Indicator of Industrial Climate reaches its best in december figure in the past 20 years

Indicator rises 2.1 points in december the previous month. For the minister Maroto “is a very positive sign since it indicates that the industry has good prospects for the coming months. Our country maintains the improving trend of industry”.

Tourism | 1/3/2022

In November, Spain recovered 72 percent of all international arrivals in 2019.

Between January and November, the total number of tourists visiting Spain reached nearly 28.2 million, and their spending exceeded 31.2 million euros. According to Reyes Maroto “Based on our forecasts in the fourth quarter of 2021, the number of arrivals is approximately 10.6 billion, reflecting a 64 percent increase compared to the same period in 2019.

Trade | 12/30/2021

Trade approves 110 projects worth 103.12 million euros to boost the competitiveness of the trade sector

The aid will be distributed among all the communities and will be managed by local administrations These lines are part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which includes a total allocation of 415 million euros to support trade over the next three years.

The Ministry | 12/30/2021

Reyes Maroto: "We have achieved the major milestones to consolidate an economic as well as a just social recovery”

The Ministry has achieved 65 percent of its commitments in the last six months. Its goal is to improve productivity and speed up the transformation of our production model based on sustainability, digitalization, and social and territorial cohesion. The progress in vaccination and measures to ensure safe travel have consolidated the recovery of tourism and increased passenger arrivals.

Industry | 12/29/2021

The Government supports the decision of Alcoa's workers and shows its commitment to the future of A Mariña

The workers supported by majority the proposal of the company A commission will be set up to monitor the agreement with representatives from the company, the workers, the Spanish Government and the Xunta de Galicia.  

Industry | 12/28/2021

The Government gives the green light to the regulation that will govern the PERTE aid for electric and connected vehicles

Today, the BOE publishes the regulatory bases that establish the requirements for granting aid with a budget of €2,975M for the 2021-2023 period Reyes Maroto “The government is fulfilling its commitment to ensure the structure of the strategic project is ready before the end of the year” This aid is expected to mobilize €11,900M in private investment

Industry | 12/27/2021

Industry approves two new projects with the Fund to Support Productive Industrial Investment for 43.7 million euros

The implementation of these projects will involve a total investment of 66.6 million euros and the creation of 200 direct jobs.

Trade | 12/23/2021

The Government approves four new operations of the Recapitalisation Fund for companies affected by Covid 19 for an amount of ¤54 million

So far, the Fund managed by COFIDES has financed a total of 66.1 million euros. Public aid has been approved for the companies Cesgarden, Eating Group, Egile and Grupo Universo Pachá, which directly employ more than 1,800 workers.

Industry | 12/22/2021

Industry approves the first three projects with the Fund to Support Productive Industrial Investment for 49.7 million euros

The implementation of these projects will involve a total investment of 69 million euros and the creation of 260 direct jobs.

Industry | 12/22/2021

Argentina will be the guest country at the next National Congress on Connected Industry 4.0

The previous edition had more than 3,300 registered participants, which reflects the leading role that industry has acquired in the economic recovery.

Industry | 12/22/2021

Industry launches the "Activa Startups" programme offering SMEs grants of 40,000 euros to improve innovation

The Escuela de Organización Industrial (EOI), part of the Ministry of Industry, plans to help 11,000 companies until the end of 2023 with Next Generation-EU funds. The planned investment amounts to 44 million euros until 2023 from the Recovery and Resilience mechanism fund.

Trade | 12/21/2021

The Government appreciates that the US accepts the WTO report on tariffs on Spanish black olives and hopes for a rapid solution to the conflict.

The final report of the World Trade Organization (WTO) concludes that the tariffs applied by the United States on imports of black olives from Spain are contrary to the rules of this organization The US administration has accepted the WTO's final report, a key starting point for confidence in an early resolution of the dispute. Pending progress towards a definitive resolution, the government will continue to work in collaboration with the Andalusian regional government and the sector to provide the information requested by the US administration.

Industry | 12/21/2021

Leather master José Luis Bazán wins the National Crafts Award 2021

The work of a sector that accounts for 0.4% of the national GDP is highlighted.

Tourism | 12/21/2021

The Government approves 46 million euros to strengthen the competitiveness of tourism in non-mainland territories

The Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands will receive 20 million euros each to improve the resilience of their economies, while Ceuta and Melilla will strengthen their tourism sector as an engine of economic and social development.

Tourism | 12/21/2021

The Government agrees with the Autonomous Communities to invest 615 million euros in over 100 tourist destinations

Beneficiaries include big cities like Madrid and Valencia, many rural areas and prioneering destinations of sun and beaches.

Industry | 12/20/2021

Industry launches the Programme to Encourage Female Entrepreneurship equipped with 10M €

Intended to attract entrepreneurial projects led and managed by women of the European Union to our country.

Tourism | 12/20/2021

Up to November, Spain reaches $30.2 million of the international air passengers

In November it welcomed almost 4 million passengers, recovering 70% of the volume of 2019

Tourism | 12/19/2021

The plan ‘La Palma reborn’ directs 27.3 million euros at the economic and social recovery of the island

Today the minister presented the new package of measures to the island's business sector representatives For Reyes Maroto, “the government continues in its commitment to the residents of La Palma. We present a new aid package intended to contribute to a speedy recovery of economic activity because we are looking at a future full of opportunities for the 'isla bonita’ ('pretty island')”

Tourism | 12/17/2021

The Government approves a new package of 17.6 million euros in support of La Palma which includes a €300 tourism voucher

The aim is to revive tourism and support the activities of the self-employed and SMEs on the isla bonita (pretty island) Reyes Maroto: “We want La Palma to be an island of opportunities. After the disaster caused by the volcano, we are working to secure the future of our isla bonita”.

Trade | 12/17/2021

Spanish exports set a new all-time high and increase by 21% up to October

Sales abroad in October continue to grow by 13.6% year-on-year to reach €28.72 billion, the highest level for this month in the entire historical series.

Tourism | 12/17/2021

Employment in tourism increased by 235,123 in November

November closes with 2,307,211 workers in the tourism sector, 11.3% more than in 2020, and continues its recovery for the fifth consecutive month.

Industry | 12/14/2021

The Ministry of Industry grants 57.4 million in aid to innovation and sustainability projects in the manufacturing industry

They have benefited a total of 30 projects that will mobilize upwards of 123 million euros. The Autonomous Regions to receive the highest amounts in aid are Andalusia, Catalonia and Castilla y León.

Tourism | 12/10/2021

Scheduled flights to Spain in December reach 81 percent of pre-pandemic levels

According to Reyes Maroto, “This is a clear sign of the confidence that Destination Spain generates in international markets ”.

Trade | 12/9/2021

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism hands out awards for the renewal and modernization of business networks

Winners include the city councils of Barcelona and Herrera del Duque (Badajoz), the Barcelona-based company Santa Eulalia, S.A., and the Federation of Traders and Industrialists of Morrazo (FECIMO), in Pontevedra.

Industry | 12/9/2021

Brussels gives the go-ahead to the PERTE Scheme for Electric and Connected Vehicles

According to Reyes Maroto, “ this project is a historic opportunity to transform the manufacturing of electric and connected vehicles into an innovation project to strengthen the car industry throughout the country. The car sector is a priority and it will play a key role in the Recovery Plan as we have the industrial capacity and the leadership of firms to invest in the mobility of the future, which is more sustainable, digital, connected and safe ”. “The project will help to develop the value chain of electric vehicles and play an important role in the eco-friendly and digital recovery of the Spanish economy ”, states the Vice-President of the European Commission, Margrethe Vestager.

Tourism | 12/7/2021

Tourism launches a €565 million fund for innovative projects by tourism enterprises

The loans will be given preferably to activities related to digitalization, accessibility, efficiency and the circular economy

Tourism | 12/7/2021

The Spanish government allocates 109.8 million euros to the rehabilitation of historical heritage sites for tourism

The recipients include 15 World Heritage Cities, the Trail of St. Ignatius and 11 Autonomous Regions of the St. James' Way

Tourism | 12/7/2021

The Spanish Government is leading the destinies of Caminos de Santiago with eur 45 million

This programme funds transformative actions to improve the sustainability, digitalization and competitiveness of the destinations, and is part of the National Xacobeo Tourism Plan 2021-22

Industry | 12/2/2021

The Ministry of Industry, the Regional Government of Andalusia, the Labour Committee (CC.OO)Industry, and Airbus form the technical working group to develop the agreement reached in Puerto Real

The technical working group will assess the industrial and technological projects associated with sustainable aviation.

Tourism | 12/2/2021

Morella (Castellón) and Lekunberri (Navarra), named Best Tourism Villages by the WTO

Cantavieja (Teruel) enters the Upgrade programme

Tourism | 12/2/2021

The tourist season extends with more than 5.1 million international tourists who have chosen to holiday in Spain in October

For the first time in history, more tourists arrived in October than in September, almost reaching August levels. According to Reyes Maroto: “ Spain's image as a safe destination and increased international connectivity have contributed to extending the tourist season as we intended ”.

Tourism | 11/30/2021

Madrid Declaration on the empowerment of women in tourism

The Committee adopted the declaration proposed by Spain on “The empowerment of women in tourism”

Tourism | 11/30/2021

The Government launches the investment of 59 million euros in tourist destinations

This initiative will benefit 22 projects in sunny and seafront locations in both rural and urban areas.

Trade | 11/26/2021

El Ministerio de Industria lanza una campaña para estimular la compra de productos originales

El fenómeno de las falsificaciones representa una gran amenaza para la innovación, la salud y el empleo

Tourism | 11/25/2021

For three days, Spain becomes the Centre of Global Tourism

More than international 500 delegates, including the Tourism ministers from the WTO member-states, international organizations, as well as leading personalities from the private sector and civil society, will participate in the high-level meeting of this specialised UN agency.

Tourism | 11/25/2021

Tourism devoted EUR 100 million to the creation, innovation and strengthening of the country's image

According to Reyes Maroto “ Spain is much more than a destination; it is an experience, it is culture, gastronomy, heritage, music, its inhabitants. In short, Spain is meant to be lived. ”. The Strategy will bring together public and private stakeholders to ensure quality experiences and contribute to creating economic opportunities, all the while advertising the destinations.

Tourism | 11/23/2021

The Spanish Government allocates 615 million euros to the sustainability of Spanish tourist destinations

According to Reyes Maroto: “ This is an investment that will strengthen our leading position in tourism at the global level, as it will transform destinations into hotspots of tourism innovation based on environmental, socio-economic and territorial sustainability. ” The funds will be distributed in the Autonomous Regions according to the criteria adopted in the Strategy for Sustainability in Tourism Destinations

Tourism | 11/23/2021

Employment in the tourism sector continues its upwards trend with 235,842 new hires in October

Reyes Maroto: “ We are very close to reaching pre-pandemic levels”

Tourism | 11/22/2021

Reyes Maroto announces an investment of EUR 45 million in World Heritage Cities

The goal of the Boosting Heritage project is the sustainable rehabilitation and maintenance of Spain's historical and cultural heritage. To reinforce our commitment to high-quality, sustainable, digital and inclusive tourism

Trade | 11/22/2021

Spanish exports increase by 22.1% until September, exceeding pre-pandemic levels

September exports increased by 21.9% to reach historical monthy peak of €28.33 billion. Exports between January and September grew by 6.7 percent compared to the same period and pre-pandemic values in 2019.

Tourism | 11/19/2021

October shows the best figures on air passenger arrivals during the pandemic

According to Reyes Maroto “ Recovery continues apace, boosted by the successful vaccination process ”

Industry | 11/17/2021

Two Spanish projects nominated as winners of the 2021 European Enterprise Promotion Awards

The CULINARY ACTION! initiative of the Basque Culinary Center, has won the Award in the "Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit" category. Firefighting Open Innovation Lab-CILIFO (FOIL-CILIFO), submitted by the Regional Foundation-Finnova Foundation, is the winner in the category of "Support for the internationalization of enterprises".

Tourism | 11/16/2021

España defiende que el turismo tenga en la agenda europea una relevancia acorde con su peso económico y social 

Reyes Maroto celebra el éxito del certificado covid digital UE como instrumento para generar confianza en los viajes seguros y facilita la movilidad internacional.

Industry | 11/16/2021

Industry allocates 179 million for carbon offsets for large industries

This programme has benefited 170 industrial enterprises and 93% of of all applications were awarded.

Industry | 11/11/2021

Industry launches a new edition of the Active Industry 4.0 programme

This is a consultancy programme specializing in digital transformation for industrial enterprises, with a budget of 3.9 million euros intended to aid nearly 400 companies. The deadline for submitting grant applications is 15 December 2021.

Tourism | 11/11/2021

Nit de L’Albà de Elche (Alicante), declared a Festival of National Tourism Interest

According to the Secretary of State for Tourism, Fernando Valdés, “ With this declaration we recognize this spectacle that dates back to the Middle Ages and is noteworthy for its originality and its roots in Elche ”

Tourism | 10/22/2021

Las Fiestas del Almendro en Flor de Tejeda (Gran Canaria), declaradas de Interés Turístico Nacional

El secretario de Estado de Turismo firma la declaración solicitada por el Ayuntamiento de Tejeda

Tourism | 10/21/2021

Employment in tourism continues to recover with 134,903 new hires recorded in September

This is the fourth consecutive month to record growth during this year The month ended with 2,365,731 tourism employees registered with Social Security, 6 percent more than in 2020 Participation increased in all regions and in most branches of tourism

Trade | 10/19/2021

Spanish exports experience record growth of 22.1% up to August

Imports have also increased by 21.6% up to August 2021, reaching 212,497 million euros.

Tourism | 10/19/2021

In September, Spain recovered more than half the number of inbound international passengers prior to the pandemic

Passenger volume exceeded 5 million, which amounts to 52 percent of arrivals in September 2019. In the yearly total, Spain reached 20.7 million passengers, 12 percent higher than in 2020.

Trade | 10/18/2021

Trade allocates 829,000 euros to reinforce Spanish Chambers of Coomerce abroad

Its goal is to contribute to the digital transformation and modernization of the Chambers of Commerce and to boost communication and digital services to improve the competitiveness of Spanish companies The deadline for applications is 20 working days from the day after the publication of the order in the Official State Gazette (BOE)

Industry | 10/14/2021

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has increased its budget by 70% to 8.2 billion in 2022

All items of expenditure are increased, with a noteworthy increase of 83 percent of the non-financial budget, which includes €3.6 billion in credits as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. Industrial policy accounts for 44 percent of expenditure with increased spending to the tune of €3.65 billion ; €2.9 billion have been allocated for trade, tourism and SMEs, a 35% of the total, and €1.68 billion will be allocated for R&D&I and digitalization, amounting to 20%. According to the minister, Reyes Maroto, “ the 2022 budget demonstrates the Spanish government's commitment to ensure economic recovery and to speed up our production model to make Spain a more competitive, sustainable, digital and inclusive country ”.

Industry | 10/13/2021

Reyes Maroto “the industrial policy budget in 2022 is the highest in history at more than 4.8 billion”

The car industry, the agrifood sector, green hydrogen and electro-intensive industry are strategic sectors for the government. According to Minister Maroto, one of its priorities is that industrial policy should have the highest social and political consensus. For this, the Ministry is drafting a State Treaty on Industrial Policy for Spain 2030, and a new Law on Industry.

Tourism | 10/11/2021

Reyes Maroto on the Xacobeo pilgrimage in Rome

The schedule of the new interactive center highlights the promotion of the St James' Ways roads during Xacobeo 2021-2022 in Italy, the first country of origin of the pilgrims.

Industry | 10/8/2021

Applications for aid from the Plan for the Modernization of Machine Tools of the Plan may be submitted from tomorrow onwards

Aids will be given in the form of grants and constitute a maximum of 20 percent of the expenditure in small enterprises, and 10 percent for medium enterprises, with a maximum of €175,000 per machine

Trade | 10/6/2021

Reyes Maroto: “Spain calls for international trade to incorporate a gender perspective in the OECD”

According to the minister, the OECD should promote the development of international trade that integrates the gender perspective, the defense of labour rights, and sustainability

Tourism | 10/6/2021

Spain joins forces with Colombia to convert Bogota into a smart tourism destination

In 2020, Spain began exporting the smart tourism model to Colombia, by collaborating with the city of Medellin to transform it into a smart tourism destination. Bogota ranks second in the list of Latin American Cities of the Future (2021/22); it is the third most important city in Latin America and the first in Colombia in terms of foreign direct investment (2019/20); and it is the fifth highest city in Latin America in terms of summits hosted (2019). These numbers make the development of this project especially relevant. This transformation into a smart tourism destination will begin by analysing all city information on the five aspects of this methodology, covering governance, innovation, technology, accessibility and sustainability.

Tourism | 10/5/2021

The Spanish Government approves three million euros to promote Spanish tourism abroad

Within the process of overcoming the pandemic, a priority is to boost publicity in order to revive the tourism market. Its goals are to improve Spain's image and positioning as a holiday destination and to boost tourist attraction and retention, among others.

Tourism | 10/4/2021

Spain recovered in half of august international tourists in 2019.

Spain was 5.2 million international tourists in august, lifting up 51 per cent of those who arrived in the same month in 2019 and 112 per cent by 2020 “ These Reyes Maroto reinforcing the trend data recovery of international tourism and confirm that Spain was seen as a destination safe ”

Industry | 9/29/2021

Reyes Maroto requests the European commission to expedite the instruments to boost semiconductor manufacturing in Europe

The minister spoke in favour of Spain's call for joint gas purchases in Europe to reduce high wholesale electricity prices.

Tourism | 9/27/2021

Reyes Maroto calls for an inclusive tourism that creates opportunities for all.

Vaccination is key to re-energizing tourism and for this, it must reach all regions that still lack access to vaccines. Spain will donate 7.5 million vaccines to Sub-Saharan Africa and to countries south of the European Union.

Tourism | 9/24/2021

Spain will host the 7th UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism in 2023

Reyes Maroto “ Staging this international event in La Rioja is a significant acknowledgement of a region that has made wine the cornerstone of its tourism model ”. Nearly three million visitors explored the wineries and museums on Spain's Wine Trails in 2019, with an expenditure of almost 80 million euros per year.

Industry | 9/22/2021

Industry presents the PERTE scheme for electric vehicles linked to public entities and companies, in Vigo

Building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders within the value chain of electric and connected vehicles is a strategic goal

Tourism | 9/21/2021

Employment in the tourism sector rebounds in August with 91,405 new hires

August ends with 2,366,501 workers in tourism registered with Social Security, amounting to 12.3 percent of the total According to Reyes Maroto: “This improvement notwithstanding, we still need to extend the protection afforded by the ERTE furlough scheme to companies and jobs that are yet to benefit from this recovery ”

Trade | 9/20/2021

Spanish exports increase by 21.7 percent until July, a historic high for this period.

The trade deficit for the first seven months of 2021 was 11.2 percent lower than that of the same period in 2020. Reyes Maroto states: “ the data from the last seven months underscore the great resilience of Spain's foreign trade, especially in the case of goods exports which now exceed pre-pandemic levels.

Tourism | 9/20/2021

Spain received 5 million international travellers in August, 172% more than in 2020.

Reyes Maroto: “ International movement is gradually but steadily recovering”

Tourism | 9/15/2021

Reyes Maroto announces that work will commence on the new headquarters of the World Tourism Organization in 2022.

The iconic Palacio de Congresos in Madrid will host the new headquarters of the World Tourism Organization, with a more modern and functional layout.

Industry | 9/14/2021

The Government approves a Plan for the Modernization of Machine Tools for SMEs to the tune of 50 million euros

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism believes that this public funding will spur 250-500 million euros worth of investments in new machinery.

Tourism | 9/14/2021

Reyes Maroto promotes the reinvigoration of the WTO's role in the post-Covid period

Spain and the UNWTO unite to boost the recovery of global tourism

Trade | 9/13/2021

The Spanish Government launches three lines of aid for the business sector with a budget of 104 million euros.

According to Minister Maroto, “ this aid will foster a more resilient, competitive, sustainable and digital trade sector ”. These new lines of aid are a part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

Industry | 9/10/2021

Industry encourages businesses to form a national cluster of personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers.

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism announces a public fund worth 20 million euros in aid to business clusters, at the end of September.

Tourism | 9/9/2021

As the summer ends, Spain recovers 70% of its air passenger capacity in 2019.

International flight bookings for September and October are almost three times as many as those booked for this period in 2020.

Industry | 9/7/2021

The Ministry of Industry and the General Council of Economists renew their support for entrepreneurship

To boost the Network of Entrepreneur Service Centres which has 3,800 information points (PAE), of which almost 3,000 are private and 800 are public.

Trade | 9/7/2021

The Government approves €50 million for a new line of aid to promote the internationalization of Spanish companies

Within the framework of the Recovery Plan, this line of funding enables feasibility studies, technical assistance, and consultancies in order to boost exports of high added value. Priority will be given to studies conducted in African and Asian nations.

Industry | 9/2/2021

The Ministry of Industry creates an Executive Committee within the High-Level Forum for Spanish Industry

According to Raül Blanco: “ the government seeks to ensure that industrial policies are backed by the greatest social and political consensus ”.

Tourism | 9/1/2021

The data on arrivals and spending by international tourists confirm Spain's status as a safe destination

Spain received 4.4 million international tourists in July, 78.3 percent more than in 2020 The average expenditure per tourist rose to 1,190 euros, an increase of 19.3 percent, and the average trip duration was 8.3 days

Tourism | 8/30/2021

Consolidated growth in employment in the tourism sector with over 244,150 new hires in July

The second-best figures recorded this month Around 2.56 million people are employed in this sector, representing 13.1 per cent of all workers in the national economy

Tourism | 8/24/2021

International arrivals to Spain double in one year to reach 4.4 million.

Germany and the United Kingdom are the travellers' main countries of origin.

Trade | 8/19/2021

Spanish foreign trade rebounds; exports grow by 23.3 percent in the first half of 2021.

The trade deficit in the first half of the year was 28.7 per cent lower than the deficit for the same period in 2020. Exports in June 2021 increased by 22% to €27.61 billion, a historic high for this month.

Industry | 8/16/2021

Applications invited for financial aid to promote innovation and sustainability in the manufacturing industry, with a budget of €95 million.

The goal of this action is to encourage industrial companies to approach innovation and enhanced sustainability as another ongoing process within their business. The budget includes €14 million worth of grants.

Trade | 8/12/2021

Results of the 2021 National Awards for Domestic Trade announced.

Winners include the city councils of Barcelona and Herrera del Duque (Badajoz), the Barcelona-based company Santa Eulalia, S.A., and the Federation of Traders and Industrialists of Morrazo (FECIMO), in Pontevedra.

Industry | 8/5/2021

Applications invited for Activa Financiación grants in the field of Connected Industry 4.0 with a budget of €95 million

This action seeks to support projects that promote the digital transformation of industrial enterprises and improves their environmental sustainability through digitalisation This year, the grants budget has been increased by €45 million, compared to 2019

Tourism | 7/30/2021

Employment in tourism has grown in june year 3.3 per cent

It is the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that breaks down the downward trend

The Ministry | 7/30/2021

Reyes Maroto “Over these months we have set the stage for the recovery and transformation of our production sectors”.

The minister considers that the actions undertaken in this half of the year within various areas of her Department have made it possible to revive the economy and boost its digitalisation, sustainability and resilience The promotion of transformative projects for sustainable and connected mobility linked to European funds, recovering safe movement between EU states and with third countries in order to relaunch tourism, supporting the internationalization of businesses, or providing funds to aid company solvency, are some of these milestones

Tourism | 7/29/2021

The national Xacobeo plan will mean a government investment of more than 25 million in Galicia

Reyes Maroto stresses that the planned investments are proof of the central government's commitment to Galicia The project includes 11 interventions to improve Galicia's historical heritage, support for destinations associated with the Pilgrims' Roads to Santiago de Compostela and international promotion by Turespaña. In addition to these investments, two tourism sustainability plans have been approved by the government for Ourense and A Mariña Lucense.

Tourism | 7/28/2021

The Secretariat of State for Tourism adopts 23 Sustainability Plans in Destinations with an investment of EUR 64 million

These plans correspond to the general call for applications and they have been drafted in agreement with regional and local bodies.

Tourism | 7/22/2021

The minister Reyes Maroto presents Spain as an attractive tourist destination to American tour operators

American travel agents value the certainty and clarity with which Spain is working to restore customer confidence when travelling. The minister also laid out details of the Spanish government's Plan to modernize the sector and to transform the tourism model into a more sustainable, digital and resilient one. Within the English-sapeaking market, the United States is a key market for Spanish tourism with 3.3 million inbound tourists and 5.8 billion euros in expenditure in 2019.

Trade | 7/20/2021

España y Estados Unidos acuerdan trabajar conjuntamente para impulsar la Agenda Transatlántica que será clave para la recuperación económica y social tras la pandemia

España y Estados Unidos acuerdan crear un grupo de trabajo para impulsar el papel de las pymes en la internacionalización

Industry | 7/20/2021

The Ministry of Industry and the Association of Labor Relations and Social Security Law Consultants unite to support entrepreneurs

Currently, the PAE Network consists of nearly 3,800 PAE entrepreneur information outlets, of which nearly 3,000 are private and 800, public.

Industry | 7/19/2021

Maroto obtains a commitment from Alcoa to unblock the process of selling San Cibrao

Alcoa has committed to studying the proposals submitted by the minister Reyes Maroto. The Government has offered to accompany the sale with public grants for the industrial and energy sectors.

Industry | 7/19/2021

The Ministry of Industry has selected the two Spanish candidates for the European Enterprise Promotion Awards

The EEPA Awards are given annually by the European Commission to publicize leading initiatives that promote and support the activity of entrepreneurs and SMEs

Tourism | 7/19/2021

Over 2.3 million international passengers travelled to Spain in June

Arrivals from the UK increased by 232 percent in one month

Trade | 7/16/2021

The Spanish Government strengthens bilateral relations with the US administration

Next week, Minister Maroto will attend high-level meetings in Washington with the members of the Biden administration in charge of trade, in order to boost overseas trade relations and to support the presence of Spanish companies in the country. From Wednesday onwards, Minister Maroto will join President Sanchez's entourage on his American tour.

Industry | 7/16/2021

The Central Government and the Regional Government of Extremadura promote the construction of a sugar factory in Merida

This project promoted by Ibérica Sugar Company Iberian entails an investment of €470 million, the creation of 54 permanent jobs, and the hiring of an additional 254 workers during the yearly crop season.

Industry | 7/15/2021

Industria activa el Fondo de Apoyo a la Inversión Industrial Productiva dotado con 600 millones de euros en 2021

Para la ministra Maroto, este nuevo instrumento va a contribuir a incrementar la producción industrial y el empleo de calidad en el conjunto del territorio nacional. El Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo mantendrá su servicio ‘Financia Industria’ de asesoramiento gratuito para informar de este fondo. Desde el portal de SEPIDES está disponible el acceso a la presentación de solicitudes a la financiación.

Industry | 6/29/2021

The Spanish Government initiates a new consultation process for participation in a European microelectronics project

In the words of the Secretary-General for Industry and SMEs, Raül Blanco, “the goal of this new expression of interest is to enhance Spain's participation in this IPCEI with financially sound and large-scale projects ”

Industry | 6/25/2021

The Ministry of Industry and the Regional Government of Extremadura sign an agreement with Diamond Foundry to produce sustainable diamonds

According to the Secretary-General for Industry and SMEs, this project will place Spain at the forefront of the diamond industry and will be key to manufacturing semiconductors, in order to remedy their current shortage in Europe.

Trade | 6/25/2021

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism presents the National Awards for Domestic Trade 2020

The winners of this edition were the City Council of Don Benito, the Zona Triana Association of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and the stationery store, Papeleria Tamayo, in San Sebastián

The Ministry | 6/22/2021

The Spanish Government approves €98.5 M in funding for SMEs and entrepreneurs

To provide funding for more than 600 business projects with an induced investment of around €218 M. 506 operations were approved along these lines in 2020, entailing an investment of over 83 million euros.

Tourism | 6/21/2021

La llegada de pasajeros aéreos internacionales crece un 71% en un mes

En mayo, 1,4 millones de viajeros llegaron a España procedentes de aeropuertos en el extranjero

Tourism | 6/18/2021

The Spanish Government launches the National Xacobeo Tourism Plan with an investment of 121 million euros

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, delivered the closing address at the Oviedo presentation of the strategy to revitalize tourism along the Spanish pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela

Industry | 6/18/2021

The Spanish Government launches a website to provide information on the Fund to Support Investment in Production

The Fund was endowed with €600 million in 2021 and applications for aid are invited from July onwards.

The Ministry | 6/18/2021

ERDF funds granted for the replacement of three elevators in the Cuzco Ministerial Complex

The introduction of more energy efficient technologies will enable energy savings of 30% in the elevators. This aid granted by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) amounts to €377,840.21

Industry | 6/16/2021

Spain and South Korea have signed two agreements for cooperation in the fields of industrial digitization and SMEs

These agreements will boost business exchanges between both countries as well as promote sustainable and innovative economic growth.

Trade | 6/15/2021

The Spanish Government welcomes the five-year suspension of tariffs between the US and the EU

Minister Reyes Maroto welcomed the agreement reached between the European Commission and the American Administration that enables the "suspension of the mutual implementation of tariffs for a period of five years and the creation of a joint working group that will help to build closer relationships between the EU and the USA in the sector of large civil aircraft, in a shift from confrontation to collaboration”. Luis Planas welcomed the return to the path of multilateralism in international trade, and above all, an end to tariffs that unfairly taxed the Spanish agrifood sector, especially, olive oil, wine, cheese and citrus fruits, among others. This decision will enable the renewed export of affected Spanish products, especially agrifoods, to the US.

Covid-19 Trade | 6/15/2021

The Spanish Government approves the €1 billion recapitalization fund for businesses affected by COVID-19

The Recapitalization Fund is one of the measures undertaken by the government to reinforce the solvency of businesses. Operations to be subsidized by the Fund will be to the tune of €4-25 million per beneficiary, €3-15 million in the case of SMEs.

Industry | 4/27/2021

The Spanish Government approves EUR 79 million in aid to compensate for indirect CO2 emissions costs

According to Minister Maroto, these subsidies are key to boosting the competitiveness of the industrial sector and enhancing their production capacity, while also generating employment.

Tourism | 4/19/2021

Tourism presents its destination sustainability strategy with public investment of 1.905 million

This measure is part of the ‘España Puede’ Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan The Strategy will lay the foundations for a new tourist model to transform destinations according to sustainable criteria in line with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda

Trade | 4/16/2021

Reyes Maroto: "Inclusive trade policies must contribute to improving gender equality"

The conclusions of the report of the Working Group "Women and Internationalization" have been presented to promote greater involvement of women in international activities. They highlight the importance of promoting greater visibility and training, including gender clauses in trade agreements and greater financial support for women

The Ministry | 4/13/2021

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism signed five agreements with five universities

They will allow students from each university to taken on internships at the ministry. The initiative strengthens interaction between universities and the ministry led by Minister Reyes Maroto.

Industry | 4/13/2021

Reyes Maroto "We must generate confidence in vaccination and follow the indications of experts involved in the vaccine programme and the EMA"

The minister recognised the role of science and research in the fight against COVID and notes that Spain has the ability to increase its autonomy in the manufacture of vaccines and become a hub for pharmaceutical investment.

Industry | 4/12/2021

OEPM presented its plan of action for the new challenges of Industrial Property

According to Reyes Maroto, this plan “ranks us among the most advanced countries in the world in the field of Industrial Property as an instrument of socio-economic development”. The Office will promote sustainable economic development and technological progress through the strategic use of Industrial Property. The OEPM will be a more people-centred, sustainable, digital, innovative, transparent and effective organisation in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Trade | 4/6/2021

Reyes Maroto receives the new classs of State Economists and Trade Experts

Reyes Maroto congratulated the new 36 civil servants, highlighting their work for the construction of a country project “that is thrilling and will improve the lives of people”.

Industry | 4/5/2021

Reyes Maroto presents a strategic bio-sustainable packaging manufacturing and logistics hub in Segovia

With an investment of €113 million, the project will consist of the expansion of the current Drylock plant, the construction of a new industrial packaging plant and the creation of a new logistics centre in the province. The project will impact tractor at national and European level in line with the 2030 National Strategies for Driving Industry Forward, and the Circular Economy. It will generate 300 direct jobs and about 1,000 indirect costs.  

Tourism | 3/31/2021

Spain will work with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to promote smart tourist destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean

The project, sponsored by the IDB, will extend to 2022 and be implemented for the Latin America and Caribbean region as a whole.

Tourism | 3/30/2021

Mexico and Spain exchange best practices for resuming safe travel

The Ministers of tourism from Spain and Mexico, the World Tourism Organization and tourist industry representatives discuss the homogenisation of travel security protocols

Tourism | 3/30/2021

Reyes Maroto presents Reactivatur, a website to access aid available for the tourism sector

A new portal combines all the aid available at different levels of Government

Industry | 3/24/2021

Reyes Maroto “The car industry is leading industrial transformation in Spain”

The first Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE in Spanish) will be in the car manufacturing sector to address the transition to electric and connected vehicles. PERTE contemplates the manufacture of batteries in Spain; developing a mobility ecosystem for infrastructure and demand; and manufacturing electric and connected vehicles.

Industry | 3/22/2021

Political parties receive the Terms of the Government Agreement for Industry

For the minister of industry, commerce and tourism, Reyes Maroto “ is far from an agreement by the industry that will allow our occupied its essential reindustrialización, designed to diversify, balance and modernize the production structure, pushing strategic sectors that make our economy more resilient. ”

Tourism | 3/16/2021

Tourism Ministry proposes establishing Alliance for Tourism Innovation and Knowledge

The report highlights innovation, knowledge and smart specialisation as factors for competitiveness to guide tourism policy in the coming years The study underlines the need to establish synergies and joint actions under the Smart Tourism Destination (DTI) model and the DTI network

Industry | 3/16/2021

The European Enterprise Promotion Awards have been convened

The deadline for submitting applications is June 15, 2021 Raúl Blanco "These awards are a great opportunity to gain recognition and visibility at a European level"

Trade | 3/11/2021

Reyes Maroto “The entry into force today of the suspension of tariffs imposed by the US is a big step to reach a negotiated solution"

Suspension will allow exports of products such as olive oil, cheese and wine to the US to start recovering their market share after two years of sharp decline. The suspension will cover all tariffs, on aircraft and components as well as all other agri-food products.

Trade | 3/5/2021

The Government celebrates the temporary suspension of tariffs between the US and the EU

The Minister of Trade and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food call for the new US Administration to reach a negotiated solution as soon as possible to definitively eliminate measures that have disproportionately and unfairly penalised the Spanish agri-food sector The suspension will mean that the export of some Spanish products to the US can start to recover

Industry | 3/4/2021

The Government is going to create a public-private consortium to set up the first battery factory in Spain

Maroto highlights the power of social dialogue in Spain. The minister has defended an Industry Pact that enables the country to reindustrialize, in order to diversify, balance and modernize the productive structure. A few days before the 8-M celebration, Maroto has recognized women and female talent in industry  

Tourism | 3/4/2021

Spansih Tourist board launches the National Xacobeo Plan 2021-2022

The project aims to bring together the Ways of St. James, creating a unique tourism product that will contribute to territorial cohesion, deseasonalisation and boost the Spain Brand. Maroto describes this new tourism product as “a commitment to the tourist model we want for the future” The plan will involve a wide range of actors, both public (CAAC and town councils) and private (associations and social entities)

Tourism | 3/1/2021

Spain urges the Commission to accelerate the European Vaccination Certificate to regain mobility by guaranteeing safe travel

Reyes Maroto has also defended that the Commission develop an ambitious program to recover tourism in Europe under the new budgetary framework.

Industry | 2/25/2021

The Ministries of Industry and Science launched a public consultation for the participation in a microelectronics European project

This IPCEI aims to reinforce the European electronics industry, focusing on the design ecosystem, the capacities of the supply chain and the first industrial deployment of advanced semiconductor technologies.

Tourism | 2/19/2021

Fitur will be the first big experience of safe international mobility

All the authorities are joining forces so that the fair which aims to relaunch Tourism, by emphasising safe travel, can be held in May Fitur will be a global showcase for analysing initiatives such as health passports, tourist corridors and diagnostic tests at origin and destinatio

Trade | 2/19/2021

Exports remain in the path of recovery and grow in december 2020

Exports of goods in Spain are growing at 0.9 per cent in december 2020 compared to the same month in the previous year, the first increase since march.Exports of goods of Spain in 2020 has been a 90 per cent of the value exported in 2019.The trade deficit was reduced by 58 per cent by 2020.

Tourism | 2/18/2021

'Las Carrilanas de Esteiro' (A Coruña), declared to be a Festival of National Tourist Interest

The secretary of state for tourism, Fernando Valdés, signed the motion today.

Industry | 2/16/2021

The Ministry of Industry trade and Tourism grants 494 shareholder's loans to the value of € 81.9 M to finance to SMEs and entrepreneurs in 2020

The execution of the three lines of credit is more than 85% of the funds.</p><p>In terms of regional distribution, Catalonia accounts for 36% of the total, followed by the Community of Madrid (28%), Andalusia (9%), Valencia (8%) and Galicia (5%).

Trade | 2/12/2021

The price-competitiveness of the Spanish economy improves compared to the EU-27 in the fourth quarter of 2020

For the Secretary of State for Commerce, Xiana Méndez, this index reflects that "in 2020, new competitiveness-price gains have been achieved compared to the rest of the European Union, which constitutes our main market."

The Ministry | 2/11/2021

Maroto reminds parliament that the full incorporation of women in the job market will mean an increase of 15% to the GDP in Spain

The minister has highlighted the impact of the pandemic on women as the industries that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19 mainly employ women

Industry | 2/4/2021

Government, employers and trade unions adopt an Emergency Plan for the national aeronautical sector

The Plan defines six areas of action: modernisation of production plants, a support fund for the supply chain, a stable budget framework, investment in R&D&I, support for vocational training, and a commitment to employment

Tourism | 2/1/2021

Projects for Sierra Espuña (Murcia), La Siberia (Badajoz) and Sierra de Francia (Salamanca) specify their plan of action for 2021.

The first Tourist Sustainability Plans approved last September at the Sectoral Conference are being launched this week with the creation of their committees, the body representing the three participant administrations (state, regional and local) which will ensure that plans are effectively implemented as agreed.

Trade | 2/1/2021

CESCE stepped up its activity in 2020

The company launched six support measures for large companies and internationalised SMEs on behalf of the State to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on the Spanish economy. The largest line, the Extraordinary CESCE COVID19 Line, has already supported more than 800 internationalised companies and accounts for one third of the 3.081 billion euros of insurance issued on behalf of the State in 2020.

Industry | 1/28/2021

Industrial Climate Indicator recovers pre-COVID figures

The Indicator for January rises 4 points and confirms the trend of improvement of Spanish industry. According to Minister Maroto “it is a very positive sign because it indicates that the industry has good prospects for the coming months. Our country maintains the trend of improvement in industry”.

Trade | 1/28/2021

Maroto urges the European Commission to request that Biden suspends the Helms-Burton law and the tariffs on Spanish products

One of the priorities of the Spanish government is working on the suspension of the Helms-Burton law, which is seriously affecting our tourism industry Maroto focuses on four priorities of the new trade relations between the European Union and the USA: solving trade disputes, improving cooperation, promote the reformation of the multilateral trading system, and coordinate responses to avoid trade distortions.

Industry | 1/27/2021

Aves Nobles and Contadores de Agua de Zaragoza win the 2nd National Awards for Connected Industry 4.0

The companies Schindler and Bodega Matarromera were the runners-up. Minister Maroto announced a redefinition of the Connected Industry 4.0 strategy towards a cooperative model capable of addressing the digital transformation in value chains.

Tourism | 1/27/2021

Maroto underlines the strength of the tourism image of Spain: “People want to travel to our country again”

While waiting for recovery, the government outlines its plan to modernise the sector and make it more competitive With an investment of €3.4 billion of European funds, it will address existing challenges to diversify tourism options and reduce seasonality. Turespaña's information and promotion strategy focuses on making Spain a leader in safe travel

Industry | 1/27/2021

Two Spanish companies, Ferroglobe and Little Electrics Cars, participate in a battery IPCEI

Companies have benefited from the support and advice of the General Secretariat of industry and the tourist. This IPCEI falls within the initiative European Alliance of batteries (EBA), driven by the European commission and Spain takes an active part since creation.

Tourism | 1/26/2021

Tourism is included in Spain's new Strategy for External Action for the first time

Reyes Maroto, "our foreign action must help the tourism industry to continue to drive job creation and the recovery of international mobility will be one of the most relevant expressions of economic diplomacy."

Trade | 1/25/2021

Export activity consolidates its recovery in the fourth quarter of 2020

Synthetic Index of Export Activity (Spanish acronym: ISAE) shows a considerable improvement and is at 12 points All indicators have gone up, from the order book and export expectations in the coming months to hired employment for export tasks

Industry | 1/25/2021

Més de 30.500 empreses i autònoms s'han beneficiat de les ajudes de la Companyia Espanyola de Refiançament

L'any passat CERSA va multiplicar la seva activitat per 2,9 vegades respecte a l'exercici 2019.Per sectors, els principals avalats han estat el comerç i l'hostaleria. El País Basc i Andalusia són les comunitats autònomes on s'han tancat més operacions de reafiançament.

Industry | 1/22/2021

Industry receives more than 750 applications after the public consultation to identify projects that could mobilize up to 30 billion euros

For the minister Reyes Maroto, the high turnout shows the great interest of Spanish companies in investing to strengthen the national economy. There is a wide variety of sectors and value chains involved, esepcially in agri-food, automotive, tourism, the circular economy, electro-intensive industries, paper, maritime, electronics manufacturing, aeronautics, aerospace, and retail. The proposals show participation throughout all of Spain, including all 17 Autonomous Regions and the two autonomous cities.

Tourism | 1/22/2021

The Government reiterates that it is working hard to receive international tourists as soon as possible

It is focusing on controlling the pandemic, accelerating the vaccination process and ensuring safety of tourists The minister has stressed that Spain's image as a tourist destination has not been adversely affected by the pandemic and that tourists are hoping to return to Spain

Trade | 1/21/2021

Exports came to €238,414 million from January to November 2020

The deficit dropped by 58.7% up to November

Industry | 1/20/2021

The number of national patent applications soar due to COVID

National patent applications grow in 2020 for the first year since Law 24/2015, the Patent Act, entered into force and despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic. Jointly, patent and utility model applications increase by 19.4% compared to 2019. Trademark and trade name applications are also experiencing rises of 0.8% and 5.6%, respectively, compared to applications submitted the previous year. The main Autonomous Regions by number of applications are Madrid, Catalonia, Andalusia, Region of Valencia and Castile and León.

Tourism | 1/18/2021

Spain urges a coordinated international response to revive safe tourism

Fernando Valdés requests progress in the tests in origin as an alternative to quarantines while the vaccination process moves forward Maroto highlights the work of the government within the OECD to achieve a common vaccination certificate to enable regaining mobility

Industry | 1/15/2021

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism promotes cybersecurity in SMEs

The Innovation in Cybersecurity Programme for SMEs is launching, free for participants. The goal of ACTIVA Cybersecurity is for SMEs to determine their level of security and to protect themselves from cyber attacks.

The Ministry | 12/30/2020

Reyes Maroto: "Our priority has been to deploy a safety net to protect businesses and workers from the impact of the pandemic"

The Minister declared herself "satisfied" with the work done and the high level of compliance with her Department's goals.

Tourism | 12/28/2020

Today the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto chaired the Joint Trade and Tourism Sector Conference

The minister has reviewed the main measures launched by the Spanish government and provided for under the Plan for boosting the hotel and tourism industries and trade which are aimed at easing the situation for companies and individuals associated with these activities.

Tourism | 12/22/2020

The Government approves new aid for hospitality, tourism and trade worth 4.22 billion

The plan establishes a 50% reduction or, alternatively, a deferment of payment for up to four months after the end of the state of emergency for the rent on commercial premises owned by large property owners rented to SMEs and freelancers. Likewise, the plan implements a tax incentive on income tax for small landlords with commercial premises in the amount of the rent reduction agreed to with their tenant during the first quarter of 2021. The plan takes into account a decrease in yields from income tax modules and the simplified VAT system of up to 35% for tourism, hospitality and trade activities. Five new activities are included in the "hyper protected" category in the Temporary Redundancy Plan enacted by RDL 30/2020, including beverage wholesale, restaurants and food stalls and bars. A new tranche of the line of ICO credit facilities is allocated €500M and backed with a 90% state guarantee. Refunds made to customers by travel agencies are recognised as eligible expenditures for the line of ICO credit facilities.

Industry | 12/21/2020

The High-Level Forum of Spanish Industry is formed

The first meeting concentrated on the 12th component of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which focuses on industrial policy and will be backed by 2,853 million euros in public funds over the next three years. Raül Blanco comments: “The Plan is a historic opportunity, thanks to the resources available to us at this crucial juncture, to turn this economic crisis around with clear objectives: digital trandormation, ecological transition, territorial cohesion, and gender equality.

Covid-19 Tourism | 12/18/2020

Tourism Ministry publishes a health recommendations guide amid COVID-19 for ski resorts

Secretary of State Fernando Valdés notes that these manuals will be used as a reference for developing international standards.

Trade | 12/18/2020

Export recovery continues, reaching €213.68 billion from January to October

The deficit was reduced by 58.0% through October. The food sector continues its positive trend and the automotive sector has strongly recovered in recent months.

Tourism | 12/17/2020

The Smart Tourism Destinations network adds its first international destinations

The first international cities are Tequila (Mexico) and Medellín (Colombia).The DTI Network already has 230 members, and was recently joined by the City Councils of Spain's World Heritage Cities Group.

Industry | 12/16/2020

Luesma & Vega, winner of the 2020 National Craft Award

The jury appreciated how their work brought together excellence in artisanal production and haute cuisine, in addition to the social and professional prestige that they contribute to the sector. Other winners included AyF Tejedores, who won the Product Award; DSNÚ, who received the Enterprise Award; Los Ferreiros de Mazonovo, who won the Promociona Award for private entities; and BEAZ, winner of the Promociona Award for public entities. The award ceremony is postponed until next year due to the pandemic.

Industry | 12/15/2020

The Government authorises funding worth $184 million euros to manufacture the 8x8 armoured combat vehicle and the NH90 helicopter

The activities associated with these projects will mean the creation of 1,240 jobs and maintenance of another 100 jobs.

Industry | 12/15/2020

The Government approves the statute for energy-intensive industries

The measure will benefit 612 companies in over 60 industries, including steel, aluminium, paper, chemistry, tiles and ceramics, textiles, and cement. For Reyes Maroto, “this Statute, along with carbon subsidies and the Spanish Reserve Fund backing energy-intensive firms, will ensure greater energy security and price certainty, and will favour investment in industry.”

Covid-19 Industry | 12/14/2020

The Government puts SMEs in the center of the economic recovery post-Covid

The Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan sets five strategic goals for SMEs: encouraging new enterprises, boosting business growth, facilitating the digital transition and innovation, improving internationalisation, and supporting trade. Support for SMEs will be backed by 2,894 million euros in public funds over the next three years.

Industry | 12/11/2020

Reyes Maroto announces the creation of a high-level industry forum

The minister has appealed for a wide-ranging State Pact for industry to develop an ambitious industrial policy over this government term.

The Ministry | 12/10/2020

Maroto announces the approval of the Energy-Intensive Indutries Statute and subsidies in hospitality before the end of the year

The minister mentioned that one of the tools supporting economic recovery will be the 2021 State Budget, which includes 27,000 million euros for the Recovery Plan.

Industry | 12/10/2020

The Ministry of Industry launches a public consultation to identify projects driving the modernisation of Spanish industry

Projects should have a significant impact on competitiveness and contribute to the double green and digital transition set in motion by the European Union. Projects may be submitted until 20 January 2021

Industry | 12/4/2020

The Minister for Industry supports the collaboration of administrations with the naval sector through PYMAR

Maroto sees the industry's agenda as an effective roadmap for its reactivation. For the first time, the Ministry of Industry, the Xunta de Galicia, and the Basque government all took part in the closing address.

Industry | 12/4/2020

The Ministry for Industry drives the digital transformation of companies with the latest Active Programme Industry 4.0

With a budget of €3.6 million, 370 industrial firms can benefit from this programme offering specialist advice to support their digital transformation. Aplications for subsidies will remain open until 12 January 2021.

Tourism | 12/3/2020

Reyes Maroto presents ‘Travel safe’, the new Turespaña campaign to regain travellers' confidence

Reyes Maroto: “We want this campaign to position the Spain tourism brand as a leader in safe travel. The campaign was launched in mature European markets and will continue as long as infection prevention measures are in place. A microsite will be the main hub with information updated daily on the requirements for entering Spain and the measures in the different regions.

Tourism | 12/2/2020

Reyes Maroto reopens the Parador de León after a complete remodelling

The Hostal de San Marcos reopens as 5-star accommodation, with 51 rooms, lounges and new common spaces. Its valuable works of art, such as a Nativity by Juan de Juni, a painted ceiling by Lucio Muñoz, and an Immaculate Conception by Antonio Pereda y Salgado, have been restored and can be seen in all their splendour. The Parador de León is a centre of attraction for tourism in Castilla y León and for Spain as a whole, and will be a meeting place for the thousands of pilgrims who travel on the Camino de Santiago every year, especially with the start of the Xacobeo 2021 Jubilee Year.

Tourism | 12/2/2020

Reyes Maroto presents DATAESTUR, a one-stop shop for tourism data

On the DataEstur website, users can consult a wide range of tourism statistics on a single site, enriched with data from different sources, including the INE, Turespaña, Banco de España, AENA, RENFE, and others.

Tourism | 11/26/2020

Tourism collaborates with Fundación ONCE in creating an accessible App on the Way of Santiago

Minister Reyes Maroto stressed that is an example of how technology can improve the tourism experience of people with disabilities.

Tourism | 11/26/2020

The Government will launch “SMARTUR”, a technological platform for managing Smart Tourist Destinations

Minister Reyes Maroto also advanced DATAESTUR will be launched on 2 December, a website with data on tourism in Spain. The Government wants to take a firm stand for digitalisation and smart tourism with a public investment of €355M.

Industry | 11/25/2020

Spain and Italy foster cooperation in the digital transition and ecology industry

Information will be shared on the hydrogen industry value chain and possible collaborations in upcoming European initiatives will be assessed.

Covid-19 Tourism | 11/25/2020

Tourism defends testing at origin to build confidence in travel

The Secretary of State explained Spain's "ambitious" position during the 'Recover Consumer Confidence' debate

Industry | 11/23/2020

The Government will mobilise €10 billion in European funds to reactivate the automotive sector