Murcia has launched a new travel website to make the region’s diverse attractions more accessible for tourists when planning their holidays. Aimed at both national and international visitors, turismoregionmurcia.es replaces and updates the regional tourism ministry’s previous promotional website (murciaturistica.es).
According to Institute of Tourism (Itrem) director Juan Francisco Martínez, the portal “has been created with the aim of being more experiential and accessible… and improving the user experience, loading speed, usability and adaptability to different devices”.
It is especially aimed at tourists who are looking for something a little different and exceptional, including “blue” (coastal) tourism, nature (hiking and cycling), health and wellness, and gastronomy, as well as Murcia’s flagship religious tourism.
The website is set up so users can make bookings without leaving the page, and the commitment to experiential content is reinforced with a blog featuring content supplied by accredited professionals as well as by “loyalty” initiatives offering prize draws and personalised information.
Tourists Enjoy Long Stays on the Costa Cálida
Tourists Enjoy Long Stays on the Costa CálidaThe diversity and extensive range of tourism options is reflected in latest figures from the National Statistics Institute, which show that international travellers visiting Murcia and its Costa Cálida resorts stay for longer periods than in any other region in Spain.
In February (the most recent month with updated statistics), the average stay was 12.52 days, nearly double the national average. A total of 41,000 international tourists visited Murcia that month (16.7 per cent more than for the same period in 2022).
The largest number of tourists in the first two months of the year were from France, followed closely by the United Kingdom, then the collective of Nordic countries.
In the lead-up to summer, in addition to launching a new website, the ministry has also undertaken specific promotional initiatives to highlight the region’s popular attractions and leisure activities.
In March, at “Sumérgete” in Madrid, Murcia highlighted its appeal as a top scuba diving destination all year round, with a total of 17 diving centres authorised by and associated with the sport’s regional association.
The region also has 10 officially-recognised “blue trails” (“senderos azules”), most in coastal areas near beaches and marinas but also further inland, which are distinguished for their “natural and cultural heritage value, as well as conservation of the environment through sustainable recreational, sporting and tourist activities that are accessible to all”.
During the inaugural “Eurovelo Congress in Zaragoza, Murcia showcased its popularity as a major cycling tourism destination.
Extending from Cádiz in south-western Andalucía to Cyprus, the EuroVelo 8-Mediterranean Route criss-crosses the Costa Cálida with a 217-kilometre route that is suitable for mountain, gravel and hybrid bikes.
The region is also home to other road and mountain routes including the Espuroad (240 kilometres) and Espubike (146 kilometres), both in the Sierra Espuña regional park.
In addition, cyclists can use more than 170 kilometres of “greenways”, abandoned railway lines converted to trails that are complemented by accommodation options, services and other facilities specifically adapted for both cycling and hiking tourists.
Towards the end of March, a special congress was held in La Manga to consolidate this area of the Costa Cálida as a benchmark destination for water sports throughout the year.
World and Olympic windsurfing champion Marina Alabau, long-distance swimming world champion David Meca, blind adaptive surfing world champion Aitor Francesena and Olympic sailing champion Theresa Zabell were among the elite sports stars present at “La Manga Abierta 365” to highlight La Manga del Mar Menor’s credentials as a top global venue for water and nautical sports.
This year, the region is hosting more than 30 events including sailing, motor boating, open water swimming, triathlon, rescue and lifeguarding, and fishing.
