Board will soon declare Ubeda a Tourist Municipality.

Ubeda has received a favorable report. This was announced by Marian Adan, the general director of Quality, Innovation and Promotion of Tourism. He visited the city and met with Antonia Olivares, the mayor. She described this as "very good news" after having fought for it for years. It is true that the decree has not been adapted to Ubet's peculiarities.

The City Council and Ministry of Tourism worked for years trying to find a way that Ubeda could be granted this appointment. This is especially important considering the site's designation as a World Heritage Site. "In December last year, we changed the decree and in record time we have prepared the file to allow it to be evaluated in the process that's beginning at the moment," Olivares explained, expressing his gratitude to Junta de Andalucia, for making this declaration a reality.

Marian Adan, Marian Adan's representative, praised the speed and diligence of the Consistory in assembling the required file to get this declaration. He stated, "It's been much easier to have an updated Tourism Action Plan."

The declaration of 38 tourist municipalities has been made in the autonomous community. Malaga is the Andalusian province with the most coastline appointments, while Jaen has the most well-recognized inland municipalities. There are currently four, and soon there will be five thanks to the declaration of Ubet. According to the general director, a "tailor-made legislative modification" was required for this. This is something that had been requested for some time.

Adan said that it was difficult to believe that two of Andalusia's World Heritage cities, Cordoba and Baeza, already have this designation. Ubeda did not even have that designation despite being "a tourist infrastructure that excels". He also stated that he has received a positive report from the Provincial Delegation of Tourism. He stated, "Now we will start the procedures at the Ministry level and soon we'll have the declaration of the Secretary General Tourism of the Junta de Andalucia regarding this file."

If all steps go according to their natural course, Ubeda will become the fifth tourist municipality in Jaen next year, thanks to the cooperation between the administrations. Adan said that the city can now opt for a fixed annual subsidy in the non-competitive system of 200,000 euros. This will promote very interesting projects, "that will revert back to tourism in the town and the province"

The mayor expressed optimism and hope that all procedures would be completed so that the city can soon celebrate its designation as a Tourist municipality. He stated, "It will become a declaration that will allow for extraordinary financing each year which will be used in improving the tourist resources, infrastructure, and services that we provide," recalling that tourism is a key component of the local economy. It is therefore important to support the sector.

He also praised Elena Rodriguez, the Councilor for Tourism for her tireless efforts and for the Tourism Area, which has its head of service, PepaRus, for her leadership in the preparation of the file. She said, "They have done an incredible job in record time, setting an example of how things can quickly be done well and professionally."

During the meeting, the general Director commented on the projects that were framed in sustainability plans that received positive evaluations from the Junta de Andalucia. These include those that correspond to Baeza and Ubeda as well as the Sierra Cazorla and Segura Natural Parks.

The VAT advance by the local administrations responsible for carrying out the projects was a major obstacle. However, that hurdle has now been removed. He said that the money won't have to be borrowed, but that one hundred percent would be funded from the beginning of the work. This is a good move, as local administrations already carry many burdens and incur many expenses.

Adan and the mayor took a tour through some landmarks of the old town. Here is where one of Spain's most spectacular monumental complexes is located, including the Vazquez de Molina square and Primero de Mayo squares. These squares house many of the city’s Renaissance buildings. He stressed the fact that Ubeda is the "epicenter of the cultural offering" in Jaen with multiple elements and resources that are part the proposal of the entire Andalusia. He praised the sector's businessmen for "continuing to develop products, services and solutions that meet the needs of visitors."