Every year, Lloret de Mar welcomes 12% of the tourists who visit Catalonia and more than 40% of the tourists who visit the Costa Brava?

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1 2014 Press kit

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3 3 Did you know that Every year, Lloret de Mar welcomes 12% of the tourists who visit Catalonia and more than 40% of the tourists who visit the Costa Brava? Lloret de Mar is Catalonia's leading sun and sand destination and the fifth-ranked destination in all of Spain in terms of the number of hotel beds? Lloret de Mar welcomed over one million visitors in hotels in 2013, generating five million overnight stays? Lloret de Mar has been a certified Sports Destination since 2006 and a certified Family Tourism Destination since 2010? The hotel offering in Lloret de Mar, with 30,000 hotel beds and more than 120 establishments, is equivalent to one third of the hotel beds in all of Cuba and one third of the hotel overnight stays in Croatia? In Lloret de Mar more than 50% of the hotel accommodation offering is concentrated in hotels with three stars or more and, moreover, that 64% of the five-star and luxury hotel accommodation on the Costa Brava is located in Lloret de Mar? Lloret de Mar in 2013 welcomed more than 34,000 sports people from Spain and abroad and 17,000 meeting and conference delegates? Four of the five beaches in Lloret de Mar are Blue Flag beaches?

4 4 1. Geographical and demographic data Lloret de Mar is situated in an outstanding geographical setting: the Costa Brava, an area that has long been renowned for its natural beauty in the form of a rich coastal and mountain landscape. It also stands out for its strategic location, close to the cities of Barcelona, Girona, Figueres and Perpignan. Excellent transport connections The airports of Barcelona, Girona or Perpignan are all within a convenient distance of Lloret de Mar. To reach the city by car, take exit 9 on the AP7 motorway (part of the E15 trans-european route) if travelling south from Girona or France, or take the C32 motorway if travelling north from Barcelona. There are several scheduled bus services from Barcelona, Girona and other European cities. If arriving by train, the nearest station is Blanes along the commuter line. Lloret de Mar is on average just 2 hours 45 minutes flying time from any European destination, and is also located very close to several places of interest that are ideal for day trips. The modernism of Barcelona and Gaudí, the beauty of the Costa Brava, the Montmeló race circuit and the Dalí Museum in Figueres are just some of the examples of places to explore using Lloret de Mar as a base. Climate With a temperature that oscillates between 6º C and 27.5º C, Lloret de Mar is an ideal destination for enjoying at any time of year, with all sorts of tourism and leisure options to explore. Thanks to this mild and stable Mediterranean climate and a policy aimed at reducing seasonality, boosting tourism activity in the mid and low seasons, the number of hotels that remain open from November to March has increased. Specifically, in 2013, 21 establishments remained open during this period, offering 7,000 hotel beds.

5 5 Demographic growth With 40,000 inhabitants, in recent years Lloret de Mar has become a tourism magnet and an engine for economic growth. It should be pointed out that in the summer season, the town welcomes up to 150,000 visitors per month. Together with Blanes and Tossa del Mar, Lloret de Mar forms part of the Costa Brava South territorial and tourism unit, with over 80,000 residents and 1,500,000 tourists.! 21 establishments remained open from November to March 2013, offering 7,000 hotel beds.

6 6 2. Lloret de Mar, tourism model for the 21st century Lloret de Mar has redefined itself in recent years as an urban beach tourist destination. "Urban beach" is a new coastal destination concept in which the natural attractions of sun and sand are complemented by a series of added values related to the destination, such as its history, inhabitants, traditions, customs, cultural heritage and a wide-ranging offering in terms of leisure, tourism and services. As a result of its commitment to renovation and leadership in the tourism sector, in 2010 Lloret de Mar drew up its Strategic Plan, a plan that set out a decade of work focused on joint initiatives between the public authorities and the private sector, which began in 2003 with the creation of the Lloret Turisme tourism promotion body. The Plan is now fully operational and is striving to fulfil two basic objectives: on the one hand, to be selected for a tourist destination restructuring plan (projects that involve the comprehensive modernisation and restructuring of mature tourist destinations with an international profile and potential, led by the Spanish government in conjunction with the Government of Catalonia); and, on the other hand, to consolidate the destination's strategic products (urban beach, sports tourism and business tourism) as a strategy to reduce seasonality and spread tourism activity throughout the year. Of Special Interest Health Active nature Leisure Sports Daytime leisure Urban beach Golf Events MICE Culture Shopping Gastronomy

7 7 3. General tourism data Lloret de Mar boasts over 120 hotels with approximately 30,000 hotel beds between them. The average stay is five days and the average occupancy is 60%. Visitors in 2013: lloret de mar M01 M02 M03 M04 M05 M06 M07 M08 M09 M10 M11 M12 TOTAL National International Overnight stays in 2013: lloret de mar M01 M02 M03 M04 M05 M06 M07 M08 M09 M10 M11 M12 TOTAL National International Comparison : Visitors Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. TOTAL ! 2013, Lloret de Mar welcomed one million hotel visitors in generating five million overnight stays Figures for outbound markets Lloret remains committed to its work with consolidated markets such as France, Germany, the UK and Belgium, promoting and specialising in products that go beyond sun and sand. Furthermore, it is also targeting strategic markets, such as Russian and Eastern European tourism, along with "proximity" tourism (Catalan, French and Spanish markets). 1. Statistics for 2013 The main markets in terms of the total number of visitors, in order, were: 1. Spain, with 21% of the total number of visitors (215,439 visitors) With 16%, Catalonia represents 75% of the visitors from Spain ( visitors). The other autonomous communities, with 5%, together represent the remaining 25% (52,229 visitors). 2. France, with 20% of the total number of visitors (203,457 visitors) 3. Germany, with 12% (123,963 visitors) 4. Russia, with 11% (107,590 visitors) 5. United Kingdom, with 8% (84,829 visitors) 6. Belgium, with 5% (50,773 visitors)

8 8! Spain is Lloret de Mar's largest outbound tourism market with 21% 2. Statistics for 2012 Lloret de Mar receives 11% of the tourists from France who visit Catalonia and 29% of those who visit the Costa Brava; specifically, 197,122 visitors, constituting 20% of the total number of visitors who travel to Lloret de Mar. Lloret de Mar receives 65% of the tourists from Russia who visit the Costa Brava, 14% of those who visit Catalonia and 8% of those who visit Spain; specifically, 113,425 visitors, constituting 11% of the total number of visitors who travel to Lloret de Mar. Lloret de Mar receives 59% of the tourists from Germany who visit the Costa Brava and 12% of those who visit Catalonia; specifically, 99,035 visitors, constituting 10% of the total number of visitors who travel to Lloret de Mar. Lloret de Mar receives 47% of the tourists from the UK who visit the Costa Brava and 6% of those who visit Catalonia; specifically, 74,778 visitors, constituting 8% of the total number of visitors who travel to Lloret de Mar. Lloret de Mar receives 55% of the tourists from Belgium who visit the Costa Brava and 12% of those who visit Catalonia; specifically, 54,983 visitors, constituting 6% of the total number of visitors who travel to Lloret de Mar. Lloret de Mar receives 52% of the tourists from Italy who visit the Costa Brava and 7% of those who visit Catalonia; specifically, 49,575 visitors, constituting 5% of the total number of visitors who travel to Lloret de Mar. Lloret de Mar receives 74% of the tourists from Poland who visit the Costa Brava and 23% of those who visit Catalonia; specifically, 36,899 visitors, constituting 4% of the total number of visitors who travel to Lloret de Mar.! The main nationalities that visit Lloret de Mar are French, German, Russian and British

9 9 4. Tourism products: figures and new developments for Sports tourism Lloret de Mar has been a certified Sports Tourism Destination since In 2013 more than 21,434 sports people visited the city, together with 13,247 companions. As such over 34,000 people visited Lloret for a sports event or stay. Spring is the busiest season for sports activity, concentrated in April, May and June Number of sports people New in 2014 Municipal swimming pool. This new complex consists of an Olympic-size swimming pool (50 metres), one section of which is equipped with a mobile floor through which the depth can be adjusted for different activities. It also contains various sports facilities distributed across 290 m2, including a fitness room, two rooms for instructor-led activities and a spinning room. In 2013, Lloret hosted 226 sports events and training! camps 4.2 Meeting tourism and festivals According to the 2012 data, Lloret de Mar has welcomed over 17,000 delegates, with an average of people per meeting. Geographical origin of participants: 45% from Catalonia. 35% from abroad (especially from France). 20% from the rest of Spain.

10 10 Lloret de Mar currently boasts the following business tourism facilities: Two conference centres with a total capacity of more than 2,000 delegates. More than 80 multi-purpose meeting rooms, with different features and capacities. This enables several size and format options according to the type of event. 6,500 beds in business-oriented hotels and hotels with a capacity for up to 800 guests, ideal for conferences, events and group activities. Municipal Theatre of Lloret de Mar, with an audience capacity of 380. Gran Casino Costa Brava (15,000 m2). Following the creation in 2009 of the Lloret Convention Bureau, a public-private joint venture, Lloret de Mar has established itself as a leading city for business, meetings and conferences. The Lloret Convention Bureau has two strategic lines of work: Attracting meetings tourism. Advising on and organising functions and events through its Festivals & Events programme. In this respect, over the course of 2013, Lloret de Mar hosted more than 30 folklore festivals. In 2013, Lloret de Mar hosted more than 30 folklore! festivals New in 2014 New website of the Lloret Convention Bureau: The website ( incorporates new technological features such as geolocation, responsive web design and social networks. Festivals & Events video: A promotional video for festival organisers, showcasing the town's venues and wide range of event options. Lloret Formula Weekend: F1-themed event that offers the chance to enjoy various packages, including tickets to the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit (Montmeló), motorsport-related activities in Lloret de Mar, accommodation options and fun activities such as driving a Ferrari, competitions in F1 simulators and tickets to discotheques. Further information:

11 Cultural heritage Lloret de Mar is steeped in over a thousand years of history. Archaeological remains of the Iberian and Roman periods are preserved in the municipality, along with the first written document from the Middle Ages with references to the town. The historical legacy of the area can be seen in the Iberian settlements of Montbarbat, Puig de Castellet and Turó Rodó, the tower of the Roman tomb, the castle of Sant Joan, the parish church of Sant Romà, the modernist cemetery, or the chapels of Les Alegries and Santa Cristina. To showcase this exceptional heritage, in 2003 the town council created the Open Museum of Lloret (MOLL), a project through which the town's main attractions have been refurbished and opened to the public. The Open Museum of Lloret is currently composed of: Santa Clotilde Gardens: Noucentista gardens from the turn of the 20th century. Maritime Museum: Museum devoted to the history of the Indianos (émigrés who returned home having made their fortune in Latin America). Modernist cemetery: One of the main Indiano cemeteries in Catalonia. Can Saragossa: Building that houses the archaeological remains of the Iberian settlements. Sant Joan s Castle: 11th century mediaeval tower. Puig de Castellet: Iberian settlement. Es Tint: Building where fishermen used to dye their nets.

12 12 New in 2014 This year will see the completion of the refurbishment works of Can Font, the former residence of a family of Indianos (the name given to Catalans who returned to the area after emigrating to America at the turn of the 20th century and making their fortune there). Thanks to the refurbishment of this Indiano house, visitors will be able to see what life was like in this period for these families. Visitor trends Santa Clotilde Gardens Maritime Museum Castle of Sant Joan Puig de Castellet Can Saragossa Es Tint TOTAL MOLL ! In 2013 the MOLL welcomed 121,494 visitors 4.4 Gastronomy and shopping Lloret de Mar boasts a wide range of shops along the seafront with over 500 shops concentrated in the town's old quarter. Since 2010 the shops in Lloret de Mar have been authorised to open every day of the year, including Sundays, which is an added bonus. The retail sector has also been given an important boost through events such as the Shopping Night, when visitors can shop until the small hours. There are also top chefs in Lloret who have won prestigious gastronomic awards. The most noteworthy recent awards include: Sant Pere del Bosc restaurant: Best Restaurant of the Year in the 2013 Gourmand Guide Two Suns in the 2014 Repsol Guide National Gastronomy Award 2013: Best Young Chef of the Year - Harry Wieding National Gastronomy Award 2013: Entrepreneur of the Year - Nico Cabañas Mas Romeu restaurant: CARTAVI Award 2013

13 13 Freu restaurant: Best Restaurant of the Year in the 2014 Gourmand Guide One Sun in the 2014 Repsol Guide Santa Marta restaurant: Honour Roll in the 2014 Gourmand Guide 40 of the town's main restaurants and hotels take part in two special gastronomic events: the Rice Gastronomy Days in May and the Cuina de l'art Fish and Seafood Gastronomy Days in October. New in 2014: The launch of the Tapas and Daiquiri Guide is this year's gastronomic highlight. Tapping into the fashion for tapas and cocktails, the guide will serve as a vehicle for discovering the best that Mediterranean gastronomy has to offer, along with key aspects of Lloret's history.! Lloret enjoys special tourism status, which enables shops to open every day of the year! 3 of the town's restaurants are listed in the prestigious Gourmand Guide

14 14 5. Lloret Turisme and tourism promotion Lloret Turisme, the tourism promotion body of Lloret de Mar, implements its action plan in accordance with the guidelines of the Strategic Tourism Plan, and executes an annual marketing and promotion plan with the goal of promoting and supporting the town's products and companies. Lloret Turisme also executes a communication plan with the goal of safeguarding the evolution of Lloret's image. Lloret Turisme has its own holiday website, available in six languages, a professional press office, saladepremsa.lloretdemar.org, and a dedicated website for the Lloret Convention Bureau which was completely redesigned in It also has a presence in the main social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube) and has a holiday blog. In 2013 the online platforms of Lloret Turisme received over 450,000 visits: Holiday website: Holiday blog: Press office: Lloret Convention Bureau website: 424,207 visits 18,440 visits 4,921 visits 10,249 visits visits En Feb Mar Abr Mayo Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic New in 2014 Lloret Turisme and the private sector present the first official card that brings together the private and public tourism offering of Lloret de Mar, serving as a shop window for all the leisure options available in the town. Through this initiative, Lloret Turisme offers promotions, discounts and all sorts of special offers for heritage sites, shops, restaurants, bars, daytime leisure activities, nightlife and all kinds of tourist accommodation.

15 15 Two categories of this official card are available: Lloret Card: Valid for adults and for young people over 12 years old. Price: 10. Lloret Senior Card. Valid for those over 55 years old. Price: 7.

16 16 6. Events calendar 2014 CARNIVAL - (FEBRUARY) From 28th February to 5th March Every year, over 40 floats and dance troupes take part in Lloret de Mar Carnival. Since 2012, Lloret de Mar has been promoting its carnival in conjunction with Blanes and Tossa de Mar as part of the "Costa Brava South Carnival" brand, an initiative aimed at encouraging visitors to enjoy and take part in the parades of the three towns. In Lloret the main event is the Great Parade that takes place on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. and on Sunday at 12 noon, with the participation of dozens of groups from all over Catalonia. Video link: Schedule 28th February 10 a.m. 1 p.m. Fancy dress competition in the workplace 6.30 p.m. Arrival of the Carnival King (Departure: El Puntet. Arrival: Town Hall Square) 1st March 11 a.m p.m. Fancy dress competition in the street (Place: town centre) 4 p.m.: Great Carnival Parade (Place: Passeig Camprodon i Arrieta Seafront Promenade) 2nd March 12 noon: Great Carnival Parade (Place: Passeig Camprodon i Arrieta Seafront Promenade) 5th March 6.30 p.m. Burial of the sardine (Place: Town Hall Square) 62ND RALLY COSTA BRAVA (MARCH) 14th and 15th March Lloret de Mar enjoys a long tradition of motor sport. The Rally Costa Brava is the oldest event of its kind in Spain and since it was first held in 1953 Lloret de Mar has always been at the epicentre of the competition. Some 100 vehicles take part and the rally is now a point-scoring event in the Championship of Spain, Europe and Catalonia as both a speed and regularity race for historic cars.

17 17 MEDITERRANEAN INTERNATIONAL CUP (MIC) - (APRIL) From 15th to 20th April The Mediterranean International Cup is a youth football tournament held in various locations in the province of Girona. Lloret de Mar is the epicentre of the event and the municipality in which all the participants stay. Some of the world's leading teams take part in this prestigious international tournament, such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid or Valencia, among others. Leo Messi, Neymar Jr, Cesc Fàbregas, Jordi Alba and Gerard Piqué (FC Barcelona), Juan Mata (Manchester United), Lucas (Liverpool FC) and Marcelo (Real Madrid CF) are just some of the players who have competed in the MIC and now play for the world's top teams, making this an essential tournament for club scouts. Link to official website of tournament: Video link: LLORET FORMULA WEEKEND - (MAY) From 9th to 11th May Lloret de Mar is an international tourist destination with a strategic location and a long tradition in organising motor sport events. These factors have combined to establish the town as an accommodation base for Formula 1 enthusiasts who travel to the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit to see the F1 Grand Prix. Lloret de Mar has been working for the past year to exploit these synergies and has created a special themed event to tie in with the F1 Grand Prix: Lloret Formula Weekend. The event consists of a weekend packed with activities. Visitors can experience what it is like to drive a Ferrari, take part in a F1 simulator competition and see an exciting parade of real race cars through the streets of Lloret. There is also a car show with official products of top makes on sale, live music in the streets and spectacular nightlife in Lloret's top discotheques and in the Gran Casino Costa Brava. Link to publication: Video link: LLORET SHOPPING NIGHT - (MAY & SEPTEMBER) Friday 9th May, from 10 p.m. to a.m. The Lloret Shopping Night is a great shopping and fashion event in which shops remain open until the small hours, with plenty of special offers and discounts for customers. The special night also includes live music, fashion parades, performances and plenty of eating options. The Lloret Shopping Night held in May coincides with the Lloret Formula Weekend,

18 18 offering visitors a unique chance to enjoy the atmosphere in Lloret in two great ways. Video link: RICE GASTRONOMY DAYS - (MAY) From 1st to 31st May About 40 local hotels and restaurants take part in the Rice Gastronomy Days initiative, offering menus in which rice is combined with excellent local products from the sea, market garden or mountains. It is a great opportunity to enjoy the excellent weather at this time of year and to try a variety of culinary offerings ranging from the most traditional to the most innovative. AMERICANOS FAIR - (JUNE) From 13th to 15th June Lloret de Mar has an important seafaring past, with many of the town s inhabitants embarking on long journeys overseas to begin a new life, especially at the turn of the 20th century. Those who emigrated from Lloret to America to seek their fortune were known in the town as Americanos and as Indianos in the rest of Catalonia. For one weekend the town travels back to this Indiano period and the streets are filled with all sorts of activities, such as street theatre, demonstrations of traditional trades, craft markets and guided tours, among others. Video link: BEACHES OF LLORET FUN WALK (SEPTEMBER) 28th September The now-traditional "Beaches of Lloret Fun Walk" takes place on the last Sunday in September, organised by the Xino-Xano cultural association. This 11-km fun walk offers an excellent opportunity to enjoy nature and discover some of the area's beauty spots. Participants gather at the meeting point in Plaça de l'ajuntament (Town Hall Square) first thing in the morning and then travel by cruise boat or bus to Cala Canyelles, where the walk begins. This is mostly a coastal route, winding its way along a coastal footpath that offers truly spectacular views, from the cliffs of Cala Trons to Sa Caleta, Lloret's main beach, Fenals beach and Sa Boadella, ending up at Santa Cristina beach. Video link:

19 19 "LA CUINA DE L'ART" FISH GASTRONOMY DAYS - (OCTOBER) From 1st to 31st October These fish and seafood gastronomy days recall the seafaring past of Lloret de Mar and its close links with the sea. The title of the days refers to the ancient fishing technique known as tirada a l'art that was carried out on the beach of Cala Canyelles in Lloret. Some 25 restaurants and hotels from the town take part in the gastronomy days. RALLY COSTA BRAVA HISTÒRIC - (OCTOBER) From 2nd to 5th October In addition to hosting the legendary Rally Costa Brava, ten years ago Lloret de Mar set up the Rally Costa Brava Històric, which has become one of the world's leading vintage car rallies. This competition recovers the essence of great competitions, offering spectators the chance to see legendary drivers and co-drivers in the flesh. Video link: MEDIAEVAL FAIR - (NOVEMBER) 9th and 10th November The mediaeval fair is held as part of the festivities of Sant Romà, patron saint of Lloret de Mar. The town travels back to the Middle Ages with little stalls and a wide variety of activities: troubadours, music, magic shows, surprises, the caravan of donkeys, mediaeval huts, workshops, an exhibition of mediaeval torture implements, demonstrations of artisan trades, games, the mysterious one-man band and a play centre for children. Video link: TIRADA A L ART - (DECEMBER) 7th December Tirada a l art is perhaps one of the most deeply-rooted traditions in the town of Lloret de Mar. This activity is held on the main beach and is a way of remembering and paying tribute to the fishing technique through which many of the town's inhabitants earned a living years ago. It consists of casting the net into the water at daybreak and then hauling it back to

20 20 the shore and onto the beach, gathering up all the fish that it has dragged in. This activity is organised by the Xino - Xano cultural association. Video link:

21 @lloretturisme Further information: Lloret Turisme Av de les Alegries, Lloret de Mar Móvil Anna Riera Tel ariera@lloret.org Consult and download audiovisual material