Por Redaccion 
«I believe that Easter will be good in Gijón,» says Pumariega
The deputy mayor of Gijón and councilor for Economy, Employment, Tourism, and Innovation, Ángela Pumariega, announced on Wednesday that, due to a «series of inconveniences» encountered during the construction of the future pilgrims’ hostel in the Vicasa building, it will be necessary to make a project modification amounting to approximately 330,000 euros, which raises the final amount of the work to 1.7 million euros.
Of this amount, half a million euros come from the European sustainability tourism plan, Pumariega explained during a visit to the future pilgrims’ hostel at Vicasa.
Regarding the hostel, she pointed out that it will be governed by a private concession model. However, it must be dedicated to a first-class pilgrim hostel and will also cater to youth.
She also mentioned that it will have a total of 62 spaces, of which 40 must be reserved for pilgrims and youth. The concessionaire will decide the use of the remaining spaces.
Pumariega also stated that there will be various types of rooms, including doubles, quadruples, a very large room, and some with ensuite bathrooms. Additionally, there will be common areas such as a lounge, dining room, and laundry facilities.
Regarding the construction, she emphasized that it is based on aerothermal technology, as well as efforts to reduce carbon footprint and thermal protection on the facade, among other features.
The councilor also highlighted that pilgrim tourism in the city welcomed approximately 1,300 visitors last year, emphasizing the importance of promoting the city’s cultural tourism and having a municipal pilgrim hostel to showcase.
In this regard, she expressed the desire to care for and promote tourists, even if the numbers are not high, stating that this hostel will also be a reference point on the Camino de Santiago.
She mentioned that the construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Simultaneously, the Tourism department is progressing with the drafting of specifications, furniture needs assessment, and preparing for the management tender once the construction is finished.
Pumariega stated that the concession is intended to be for several years to amortize the initial investment. Additionally, she noted that some of the furniture will be provided by the City Council, while the concessionaire will supply other items like reception design or technical equipment such as the laundry facilities.
EASTER WEEK
Asked about the tourism forecasts for this Easter week, she indicated that the sector estimates current reservations to be around 70 percent.
She emphasized that in recent years in Gijón, there have been both last-minute highs and lows. «We are all keeping an eye on the weather to see how Easter will be, and I believe that Easter will be good in Gijón,» Pumariega said, suggesting that the weather will influence tourism data.