Minister of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, during the presentation of the budgets of his department, Nuria Montes, Ciudad de la Luz has set the homework for 2024, the next year in which the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI), the Community of Digital Transformation Projects (SPTD) or Benidorm Fest will play an important role. Without going any further, the bet for the Alicante film studios involves the management of the sets through an international tender involving companies with experience in the audiovisual field. At the end of July, it became known that six companies had applied to manage Ciudad de la Luz, including the American MBS Group, Nu Boyana and Boftea Estudios, the British Stage Fity and the Spanish Secuoya and Mediapro. Montes’ words this Wednesday determine that the management will fall to one of the international companies.
As for AVI, it has been reduced on all accounts to promote competitiveness in the ministry’s 2024 budgets, as well as all temporary subsidies being removed and a million injected to help organisations. Generalitat They initiated public procurement of innovation. Additionally, 15 million were allocated for participation in a state project for specialized centers in artificial intelligence and 5.2 million for participation in a digital entrepreneurship network with other autonomy. Montes added that SPTD will play a “decisive role” in this entire area.
Productivity
Among the items, the council member highlighted support for: Benidorm FestivalA “tremendously impactful” RTVE project, it will celebrate its third edition in February and will announce its artists at the Latin Grammys in Seville this weekend. A budget of 1.5 million will be allocated to the festival from the Generalitat. “We will continue to promote it because we believe it is one of the greatest successes and one of the most profitable elements in terms of image,” he said, as well as highlighting what British tour operators told him at London World Travel. There are “lots of tourists” choosing festival dates to visit Benidorm at this week’s international tour fair.
After giving importance to innovation, artificial intelligence and prioritizing the challenge of reducing the digital divide, Montes continued to set goals in tourism; Among these, deseasonalization stands out in the face of “fierce” competition from other destinations. “We cannot believe that we are the best in the world because we are not and we must continue to strive to improve our limits,” the consultant said. Immediately afterwards, he emphasized the abolition of the tourism tax, which will be approved at the general assembly to be held this Friday, and warned that the sector faces great difficulties after a summer and autumn start with “good data”.
traveler’s check
One of the biggest bets to achieve the sought-after seasonality in tourism is programs such as the Travel Bonus, whose budget will decrease by 2.5 million, from 15 to 12.5 million, and will be modified to improve and increase low season periods. average accommodation. According to the figures shared by Montes, there are 1,050 companies and with data at the end of the third quarter this year, 302,000 nights of accommodation and the average spending amount is 640 euros. 7 million resources will be allocated for the promotion of musical, sports and cultural events.
Regarding those linked to industry, the councilor announced that he had undertaken a “rigorous” analysis to develop a strategy for its re-industrialisation. Valencian Community By 2028, with “instruments that enable the emergence of SMEs”, a new cluster policy, support for internationalization and energy transition, and “minimization” of bureaucracy. Feria Alicante will have 1.3 million euros and a capital contribution of 746 thousand euros. Montes chose to make it “profitable and autonomous” across the current legislature.
from oppositionSocialist Arcadi España condemned the decline in the Travel Bonus. PSPV-PSOE representative and Compromís’ Vicent Marzà joked that both Montes and Generalitat president Carlos Mazón announced an air connection from Valencia to New York with a stopover in London as a major innovation. “There was already a flight to Camps and Barberá, and it was a direct flight,” they recalled.
150 percent increase for strategic projects
The budget includes a 150% increase in funding for strategic projects, from four million to ten million. Aid allocation for improving infrastructure and services in industrial areas reaches 32 million. A fund of three million was created for specialist training in batteries and a fund of four million for energy improvement in railway manufacturing. On energy, the Wind Plan Compensation Fund was increased to 5 million.
A program to increase business competitiveness
In the field of trade, the Crea Comerç program stands out, which subsidizes actions aimed at modernization, innovation and increasing the competitiveness of local trade with a budget of nine million. “Local commerce is the engine of our cities, revitalizing downtowns, sustaining populations and attracting tourism,” said Councilwoman Nuria Montes. The budget also includes funds for the protection of consumers, which reached 5.7 million.
Tourism and production laboratory of new audiovisual works
Accounts for 2024 include three new hotlines aimed at launching a Tourism Innovation LAB, promoting innovative public procurement and encouraging innovation in the aerospace sector. The allocation of the program, which aims to encourage innovation in municipalities, was increased by 500,000 euros to four million. Additionally, a 3.5 million line was established to encourage the production of audiovisual works.
Source: Informacion
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.