The Tourist Board and RENFE sign cooperation agreement to promote Costa del Sol and high-speed train to Málaga

In the context of Fitur, the Costa del Sol Tourist Board and RENFE have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening joint promotion efforts for Málaga as a travel destination and the high-speed train serving the province. The President of the Tourist Board, Salvador Pendón, and the Director of RENFE’s high-speed train (AVE) serving the southern corridor, María Magdalena Bodelón, have undertaken to “keep working together to strengthen our common goals and boost both the tourism and the transportation industries,” our President said.

Both Mr Pendón and Ms Bodelón underscored the good relations between both organisations, and they explained how the Tourist Board had made it possible for the high-speed train to make inroads into the travel market. In fact, they said, the performance of the high-speed services launched in the past few months has been much better than that of the AVE Madrid-Seville when it started operating.

By virtue of the new cooperation agreement, the Tourist Board shall include the RENFE trains connecting Málaga with Madrid in its programme of promotional activities. Likewise, the Tourist Board shall inform clients, exhibitors, conference attendees, and guests of RENFE’s special deals to encourage the use of the high-speed services. Finally, all the Tourist Board’s publications, brochures, and advertising materials handed out in conventions, incentive trips, workshops, promotional campaigns, and events organised to publicise Málaga Province as a travel destination shall include a visible logo of RENFE and the caption “Official transport company.”

Conversely, in order to give a boost to conference tourism, RENFE shall offer a 30% discount off regular rates to passengers attending congresses and conventions in Málaga. To this end, the Tourist Board shall produce a list of the events that have been scheduled to take place and their corresponding dates, so that each event can have an approval number, which shall in turn be informed in writing to the Tourist Board.

In addition, both parties shall make agreements with travel wholesalers to implement special promotions and travel packages, with special emphasis on those products related to “Picasso’s Malaga” and “The High Speed of Golf.”

With regard to senior and youth tourism in Málaga, Renfe shall offer special rates for groups (for the services and dates chosen by the company), with discounts of up to 50% off regular rates in compliance with the general terms and conditions for senior and young passengers, only that the minimum number of passengers shall be 15 rather than 25 as established in the general terms and conditions.

Last but not least, both parties shall be able to plan up to 10 fam trips for a maximum of 20 guests per trip. To this end, RENFE shall provide the tickets for the trains and coaches it sees fit (Madrid-Málaga-Madrid), whereas the Tourist Board shall provide guests with accommodation, meals, sightseeing tours, and complementary or additional services considered to be of interest for promotional purposes.