The Costa Blanca Tourism Board, in collaboration with the University of Alicante and Visit Benidorm, has organized a trip for American teachers participating in a Spanish language training program promoted by the Embassy of Spain in Washington. This initiative is part of the province's internationalization and language tourism promotion strategy.
For two weeks, the educators attended the course “The classroom in the world, social networks, artificial intelligence, and audiovisual resources in the ELE class” at the University of Alicante. Subsequently, they enjoyed a cultural, tourist, and gastronomic excursion around Benidorm, organized by the Costa Blanca Tourism Board and Visit Benidorm.
This activity allows participants to discover firsthand the quality of life, heritage richness, cultural offerings, natural environment, and Mediterranean gastronomy of the Costa Blanca. According to the Tourism Board's director, José Mancebo, attendees were able to learn about the tourist resources and the conditions that make the destination ideal for learning Spanish, such as the climate, academic offerings, international connectivity, and a safe environment.
The Education Department of the Embassy of Spain in Washington annually organizes training programs for Spanish language teachers from the United States, aiming to introduce innovative methodologies, update pedagogical knowledge, and bring participants closer to Spain's linguistic, cultural, and social reality.
José Mancebo highlighted the fundamental role of international teachers as destination influencers, as their professional experience allows them to guide students and educational centers in selecting language immersion programs. Their recommendations are a determining factor when choosing a learning destination.
Many of these educators participate in international mobility programs and educational trips, making them a priority target audience for promoting Costa Blanca's language tourism. Their influence is key to attracting students interested in learning Spanish in Spain.
During their stay, the group of about ten participating teachers visited tourist sites in Benidorm, discovered the environmental values of the Serra Gelada Natural Park, and enjoyed a tasting of local gastronomy.
Finally, José Mancebo emphasized that the tour showcased the destination's diverse tourism offerings, combining natural heritage, culture, sustainability, and gastronomy, enabling teachers to have an authentic experience and subsequently convey a complete and attractive image of the Costa Blanca to their students and home institutions.
