Do They Speak Spanish There? Let's Go!
Discover why Spanish is a factor when choosing a tourist destination, and how the history of the language is an attraction for travelers.
Language tourism
Did you know that language is one of the reasons people travel? Whether to improve your skills or come into direct contact with the culture that surrounds it, language is a great tourism incentive.
Gramática en español (2020)Original Source: Pexels.com
Spanish is the second most sought-after language for language tourism. In 2016, there were 285 million student travelers.
Suso MonasteryOriginal Source: La Rioja Turismo
The new economy of language
Language is a lever for economic growth, so many resources are being invested in getting more value out of language in all sectors: technological, cultural, social, tourism, art...
Spanish as a tourist attraction
Spanish is a great added value for many when choosing a holiday destination, and its culture and history are a clear incentive for those who want to know more about Hispanic cultural and linguistic heritage.
Salamanca City (12-03-2022)Fundación Antonio de Nebrija
Since the recent implementation of the new economy of language, tourism incentive projects are being promoted with Spanish at the center.
Salamanca
The international students' favorite city.
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The University of Salamanca was founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX of León, it is one of the first European universities and the only Spanish one that has maintained its activity for centuries. Illustrious figures such as Antonio de Nebrija or Miguel de Unamuno have passed through its classrooms.
Salamanca City (12-03-2022)Fundación Antonio de Nebrija
Every year, thousands of students choose this city for its recognition in the area of university education. For example, in the 2021/22 academic year it welcomed 5,400 international students from 91 different countries.
Library of University of Salamanca (1254) by Universidad de SalamancaFundación Antonio de Nebrija
Salamanca also hosts the Centro Internacional del Español de la Universidad de Salamanca(CIEUSAL), a center dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of the Spanish language. The Spanish Government has invested 2.5 million euros in this center, for the search for new strategic markets for the teaching of the Spanish language.
The Yuso and Suso MonasteriesOriginal Source: La Rioja Turismo
The Government of La Rioja (Spain) has announced a project called "The Valley of Language," which is made up of initiatives in the field of teaching, tourism, culture, science, and artificial intelligence, focused on Spanish and its historical relevance.
Suso MonasteryOriginal Source: La Rioja Turismo
Within this project, the Center for Intelligence of the New Economy of Language will be created, where strategies for developing the areas where this new economy has an impact will be studied and promoted.
Yuso MonasteryOriginal Source: La Rioja Turismo
The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism is an ally of this project, helping create unique spaces and experiences in an innovative, digital, and sustainable way to publicize, understand, and explore the evolution of the Spanish language.
Yuso MonasteryOriginal Source: La Rioja Turismo
Key pieces of La Rioja's linguistic, cultural, and landscape heritage will be recovered and digitized to offer visitors an immersive, creative, and interactive experience.
Yuso MonasteryOriginal Source: La Rioja Turismo
Why La Rioja?
La Rioja is home to San Millán de la Cogolla, a World Heritage Site and where the Glosas Emilianenses were written. It is the birthplace of Gonzalo de Berceo's Mester de Clerecía, the literary works of María Lejárraga and María Teresa León, and the screenplays of Rafael Azcona.
Suso MonasteryOriginal Source: La Rioja Turismo
What does creating these types of projects entail?
Projects such as the Valley of Language show the use of languages as a strategic foundation for growth and progress, in a pioneering manner.
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The new economy of language poses scenarios for linguistic application, such as artificial intelligence, which had not been developed until now.
Mural of the Spanish (2019)Fundación Antonio de Nebrija
Projects such as the Valley of Language allow language to be studied from a future perspective and to compete in emerging markets.
The information for this article has been obtained from the Instituto Cervantes' Anual Report 2022, the Salamanca's Tourism Office and La Rioja's Tourism Office.
Content curation and script: Aina Arbona
Graphic Editor: Carmen García
Consulting and review: Lola Pons (Universidad de Sevilla)
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