After the flames

THE Valencia regional government has launched a project to help kickstart tourism in several small towns and villages affected by the massive forest fire in the Vall d’Ebo last year.

The blaze destroyed more than 12,000 hectares of forest area in the mountains of the Marina Alta and Comtat districts after a bolt of lightning hit the Vall d’Ebo in the middle of the driest and hottest period of the summer.

The €50,000 investment approved by the Generalitat will be used to improve and diversify the area’s tourism services, increase resources and promote quality and sustainable tourism.

Projects will include a programme of free cultural visits including guided tours through the affected towns, visits to museums, caves and other points of interest, and designing rambling routes through the countryside.

A series of environmental workshops will be held to improve biodiversity, as well as talks and conferences in municipalities and schools to boost ‘ecotourism’ and promote respect and care for nature. The agreement also includes the design and production of promotional material, such as tourist and heritage maps of the Marina Alta municipalities affected by the fire.