Aragón defends sustainable tourism as a driver of rural areas
The Minister of Environment and Tourism of Aragón, Manuel Blasco, participated on October 9, 2025, in the round table «Interior Tourism: An Ongoing Challenge», held at the Congress Palace in Cáceres as part of the Turespaña Convention. During his speech, he advocated for the Aragonese model as an example of sustainable tourism development linked to territorial balance.
Aside from Manuel Blasco, the round table also featured the participation of Patricia Franco, Minister of Economy, Business, and Employment of the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha; Rebeca Esnaola, Minister of Sports, Culture, and Tourism of the Government of Navarra; and Gonzalo Santonja, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Sports of the Junta de Castilla y León.
Blasco emphasized that «the environment and tourism go hand in hand» and that his goal is to preserve natural and cultural heritage for current and future generations. He highlighted that in inland communities, tourism generates economic activity and jobs in areas where they do not exist, offering a survival opportunity for rural municipalities.
The minister presented figures that establish Aragón as a benchmark interior destination in 2025. Between January and August, the autonomous community registered a 1% increase in the total number of travelers and a 3% increase in overnight stays compared to the previous year. During this period, Aragón exceeded 2.8 million visitors and 6.4 million stays. Blasco concluded by stating that «tourism is an essential tool for territorial balance and maintaining the population in rural areas.»
