The investment, managed by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, will be distributed among 16 municipalities and four organizations and associations in the province. These funds are channeled through two main lines: Sustainable Tourism Destination Plans, with 24.64 million euros, and the Program for Improving Competitiveness and Dynamizing Historical Heritage with Tourist Use, allocated 21.22 million.
The Government's sub-delegate in Castellón, Antònia García Valls, highlighted that these grants enable local entities to execute projects linked to destination modernization, heritage conservation, and competitiveness improvement, aiming to reinforce a more sustainable tourism model from environmental, socioeconomic, and territorial perspectives.
Within the historical heritage dynamization program, 2.96 million euros are allocated to the Roman Villa of Benicató in Nules. The works include rehabilitation, excavation, consolidation, and the creation of an interpretation center. García Valls visited the site and emphasized how these funds help promote cultural and historical sites beyond the traditional sun and beach model, turning heritage into future opportunities.
The 2022 call for the Competitiveness Improvement Program has also benefited other municipalities such as Segorbe (2.25 million), Sant Mateu (2.96 million), Jérica (920,000 euros), Culla (1.28 million), La Vall d’Uixó (2.58 million), Cervera del Maestre (2.40 million), Almassora (2.90 million), and Onda (2.96 million).
Furthermore, the State Secretariat for Tourism has approved 14 projects under the Sustainable Tourism Destination Plans, corresponding to the 2021, 2022, and 2023 calls. Beneficiaries include the town councils of Peñíscola, Alcalà de Xivert-Alcossebre, Oropesa del Mar, Morella, Castellón de la Plana, Benicàssim, La Vall d’Uixó, Vinaròs, and Montanejos, as well as the Provincial Tourism Board Costa Azahar, the Espadán Mijares Commonwealth, the Alt Maestrat Commonwealth, and the Intermunicipal Association of Penyagolosa Municipalities.
García Valls affirmed that the Government of Spain is fulfilling its commitment to the province of Castellón in tourism matters, allocating European funds to support the transformation of destinations towards more sustainable models.
