Twelve Catalan campsites amongst the best in Europe

Stuttgart (ACN).- 12 Catalan campsites are now amongst the very best in Europe after receiving the award for ‘Best Camping 2014’, one of the highest existing distinctions for this type of tourist establishments. They were each awarded ‘5 stars’ for their facilities and services provided to the customers, and are listed in a guide published by Germany’s main Automobile Association (ADAC), read by millions of German and Dutch campers. Seven of these twelve campsites are located in the Province of Girona, on the Costa Brava (north-eastern Catalonia). Invited in the main CMT Tourism Fair in Stuttgart where they have a special booth, the directors of the campsites have stated that these distinctions would be instrumental in attracting more campers from Germany, which offers a significant number of potential customers.  

The ‘Best Camping 2014 awards’ have evaluated 5,500 campsites across Europe, marking them according to their strengths and weaknesses. Among the aspects taken into consideration are the beauty and quality of the environment, the comfort of the facilities and the customer service. The very best campsites are awarded five stars for the next year, making them particularly appealing to tourists. The guide has distinguished 15 campsites in the whole of Spain; 12 of these are located in Catalonia, and 7 in the Province of Girona.

The best campsites in Catalonia are the Medes de l'Estartit, and the Cypsela on Pals beach; the Ballena alegre, the Àmfores, and les Dunes in Sant Pere Pescador; the Delfín Verde in Torroella de Montgrí; the Mas Sant Josep in Santa Cristina d'Aro (all seven located on the Costa Brava, in the Province of Girona); the Vilanova Park in Vilanova and la Geltrú (in the Province of Barcelona); the Templo del Sol in l'Hospitalet de l'Infant; the Tamarit Park in Tarragona, the el Torre del Sol and the Platja Mont-roig camping (all four located on the Costa Daurada, in the Southern Province of Tarragona).

A special booth for Girona campsites at the CMT Tourism Fair in Stuttgart

The presentation of the latest edition of the guide coincided with the opening of the CMT Tourism Fair in Stuttgart, which is the main event in the sector, welcoming more than 210,000 visitors every year. The Province of Girona was invited for the 2014 edition to promote its Costa Brava and Pyrenees destinations. The directors of the distinguished campsites, the Costa Brava and Girona Tourism Board, the Catalan Tourism Agency and the Campsites Association of Girona had a dedicated booth to this effect. Medieval band ‘Els Berros de la Cort’ and Singer Nina gave concerts while visitors discovered typical dishes from the area.

The Chairman of the Campsites Association of Girona, Miquel Gotanegra, explained that being invited was a unique opportunity to try to increase the number of German tourists in their campsites. The director of the Ballena alegre camping in Sant Pere Pescador (Province of Girona), Àlex Tries, stated they had chosen to target the German market due to the many potential customers in the country, which is one of the first in Europe in terms of number of campers.

Girona campsites already rewarded for their quality

Referring to the excellence of campsites in Girona, Àlex Tries insisted there was no magical recipe for success. On the contrary, a lot of hard work, effort, and dedication were needed to improve the facilities and constantly provide better services to the customers.

The Province of Girona is the first in Spain in terms of number of campsite occupation capacity, which even exceeds the number of hotels. Its campsites provide particularly competitive rates and a wide selection of services compared to other establishments in Spain. The sole Province of Girona accounts for 75 campsites, 119,308 spots and 4,020 bungalows.

Girona campsites had already received prestigious prizes and awards by the DCC, ADAC, ANWB or the Alan Rogers guide which evaluates the quality of facilities, equipments and services provided. The campsites have received over thirty quality labels such as the ISO14001, EMAS and Q which increase the value and attractiveness of establishments.