Heritage DISCOVERY PROJECT OF THE CATALAN CROSS-BORDER THERMAL SPACE

The tourist area of the municipality of Caldes de Malavella has been working for months on a new project to promote thermal tourism and thermalism both within the principality of Catalonia itself, with the creation of the Vilas Termals Association, and also working with the public on the other side of the Pyrenees.
For this latest tourism project, we have worked with them to obtain a grant from the Department of the Presidency of the Generalitat de Catalunya, via the Perpignan House.

The mission of this tourist project between the municipalities of Caldes de Malavella and Els Banys d'Arles (Amélie-les-Bains) is to promote thermal tourism, culture, and heritage, by combining the resources of the two thermal resorts. In this way, a joint projection will be made with specific campaigns, taking advantage of the proximity and similarity of the two centers on both sides of the Pyrenees, and promoting the flow of visitors between Caldes and Banys to bring the Catalan cross-border space closer.

The general objective of the project is to promote tourism between the departments of La Selva and Vallespir by presenting the destinations to the main proximity markets with competitive and high-quality proposals:
- Spread the attractions of the two thermal resorts among tourism intermediaries and encourage their commercialization
- Promote the creation and promotion of tourist products aimed at different sending markets in the fields of thermal tourism and health
- Advise destinations and tourism entrepreneurs on promotion matters
– Through the "Discovery of Cross-Border Thermal Heritage" project, create a network of relationships between businesses and tourism organizations from the two thermal resorts to share knowledge and valorization actions
- Carry out promotional actions (fairs, press trips, family trips, workshops, presentations, actions for the general public, actions on social media...) to present the tourism proposals of the two destinations, using the "Viu l'aigua" brand.

The project consists of a series of very specific actions such as: collaboration and publication of a visual capsule to attract the general public, creating a common micro-website in three languages (Catalan, Spanish, and French), designing and editing a brochure and exhibition corners, promotional activities, and visits for folkloric exchanges and associative experiences between the two populations.

The grant figures: "Eurodistrict Call for the Development of Cooperation Projects in the Catalan Cross-Border Area (2022-2023)"
Project name: DISCOVERY OF CROSS-BORDER THERMAL HERITAGE
Experience exchange actions for socio-economic development and cultural heritage valorization between two reference populations in the field of health and wellness tourism on both sides of the Pyrenees.
Completion years: 2022-2023
Theme: Tourism, Heritage, Cultural Actions
Project territory: Catalan Cross-Border Space
Partner 1: Municipality of Caldes de Malavella (La Selva)
Partner 2: Municipality of Amélie-les-Bains / Els Banys d'Arles (Vallespir)
Total project cost: €9,571.10