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The Tourism Offices of Santa Pola have successfully renewed the Q for Tourism Quality, a certification granted by Spain’s Institute for Tourism Quality (ICTE) and endorsed by the Secretary of State for Tourism. This recognition confirms the municipality’s ongoing commitment to providing professional, accessible, and high-quality public tourism services. The result follows a detailed follow-up audit which praised Santa Pola’s continuous improvement in areas such as digitalisation, accessibility, and visitor management. The Q for Quality mark is one of Spain’s most respected standards, awarded only to institutions that consistently meet rigorous national criteria in service excellence and operational efficiency. Details of the Certification The certifying body of the certification is the Spanish Institute for Tourism Quality (ICTE), endorsed by the Secretary of State for Tourism through the Government of Spain. The successful renewal of the Q for Tourism Quality recognises visitor service excellence, innovation, accessibility, and continuous improvement of the tourism sector. Santa Pola’s tourism offices exceeded national quality benchmarks, maintaining full compliance with ICTE standards. Councillor for Tourism Borja Merino said, “This recognition is the result of daily effort and strong team commitment. We are very satisfied with the audit results and will continue working towards innovation and improvement for the benefit of visitors and residents alike.” The Importance of Tourism in Santa Pola The Q for Tourism Quality is a hallmark of excellence in Spain’s tourism sector, serving as a guarantee of professionalism, reliability, and visitor satisfaction. For Santa Pola, the renewal reinforces its position as a leading tourist destination on the Costa Blanca, known for blending tradition, sustainability, and innovation. Hopefully this will continue to bring in positive ratings for the area of Santa Pola and keep tourism numbers increasing. In an increasingly competitive tourism market, the certification not only enhances Santa Pola’s reputation but also reassures visitors of a consistent and high-quality experience — from information services and guided tours to digital accessibility tools. The award also reflects the municipality’s wider commitment to inclusivity and environmental responsibility as part of its Smart Tourist Destination (DTI) strategy. Visitors Benefits Visitors can benefit directly from Santa Pola’s upgraded tourism services with access to tailored travel information and itineraries through the AI-powered route planner on the official tourism website. They will also be able to explore inclusive travel options using the Paula Chatbot and Navilens codes, which provides accessible information for people for visual or cognitive disabilities. There also will be guided tours managed by the Tourism Office itself, all of which have earned high satisfaction ratings in visitor surveys. The public can also follow “Sal con Santa Pola”, the council’s promotional campaign showcasing the town’s beaches, heritage sites, gastronomy, and events. Future Plans Future plans include expanding the DTI (Smart Tourist Destination) initiative in collaboration with Segittur and Invattur, continuing digital transformation efforts, and increasing bilingual and accessible resources across tourism points. Continuous internal audits and staff training will ensure that Santa Pola maintains its high standards, with the goal of achieving even greater recognition in national and international tourism quality schemes.
