Tourism is the greatest wealth of the PRINCIPALITY
ENRIC PUJAL ARENY MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE AND SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF ANDORRA
How can the cultural and artistic heritage of Andorra be described?
We have a very important legacy of Romanesque art. There are more than thirty Romanesque monuments dating from the 10th to the 13th centuries, all of them restored, which can be seen through guided tours. A visitor to Andorra can see all the Romanesque art in two days because it is so concentrated. We are currently expanding our cultural and museum space. There are two very unique buildings: one showing how a wealthy Andorran family lived in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the other depicting a middle-class farming family. We are also renovating the Farga Rosell.
Ironworks were sites where stone was broken down with hammers using water currents, extracting the iron. The iron was exported to Spain, primarily to Catalan factories. This iron industry operated in Andorra until 1870. The Rosell Ironworks will be part of the "Iron Route" itinerary, which will encompass Spain, France, and Andorra. There are two ironworks in Spain, one in the Basque Country and another under construction in Ripoll; and one in France, which is already operational. Together with ours, they form part of the Ironworkers' Circuit, which could be open within two years. This visit, along with a trip to Caldea, a major leisure center in Andorra, will be a must-see for any tourist visiting Andorra.
What are the most immediate projects regarding cultural investment and how are investments to maintain historical heritage being addressed?
The Ministry of Culture has various budget lines allocated to museums and reconstruction projects. This legislative term, we have three new museum projects.
The National Museum, which will be located in Andorra la Vella, already has a designated space. The Automobile Museum, currently operating in a very small space, will be expanded. This museum boasts a formidable collection of cars, loaned to us by private individuals. Among them are models of which only three exist worldwide. Collectible cars, motorcycles, and bicycles will soon be on display in a suitable space. The third project is a Museum of Contemporary Painting. In this case as well, we have the allocated budget and a state-owned building to house it.
On the other hand, together with the Comú (local council), we are going to undertake the construction of the Snow Museum in the town of Canillo. There, all the machinery used to build access roads in the 1940s will be displayed.
What percentage of Andorra's GDP corresponds to tourism?
Several statistical studies are currently underway. I would say it's a huge amount; in fact, the state coffers are essentially filled by tourism. When goods arrive in Andorra, they pay customs duties, which are obviously collected by the state. Those who buy these goods are, for the most part, visitors, numbering eleven million three hundred thousand people a year. So, we can say that, directly or indirectly, Andorra lives primarily off tourism. Construction, hotels, and restaurants all revolve around tourism. We have sixty-five thousand inhabitants and eleven million three hundred thousand visitors; this ratio is tremendous. The average expenditure per visitor could be around one hundred and thirty euros, between what they buy, spend in hotels, and on leisure activities. This is Andorra's basic wealth. Tobacco is also one of the country's sources of wealth. Tobacco is manufactured in Andorra, and the factories employ many people.
What does Andorra have to offer as a tourist destination?
Over the last twenty years, the increase in skiing has been spectacular. Especially in Andorra, where we've gone from having virtually no tourists in winter to having far more in winter than in summer. It's also true that ski tourists have greater purchasing power than those we receive in summer. We have five alpine ski resorts and one cross-country ski resort with modern and well-equipped infrastructure. There are gondolas departing from the town centers that can carry up to three thousand people per hour. Between December and April, Andorra transforms into a ski resort, and it's common to see people strolling through the streets in ski gear and doing their shopping. This winter has been an extraordinary season, and we expect to surpass the figures of previous years. After Easter come the months of May, June, and July, which are less busy in terms of tourist numbers. The Ministry of Tourism has sought incentives to ensure that we maintain the same level of tourism during these months and throughout the summer. Thus, we are trying to attract conference tourism; we have a very special appeal for this type of tourist. Let's not forget that shopping is extremely important in Andorra. We are having great success, although we must also acknowledge that we lack infrastructure, as our capacity is for up to six hundred conference attendees. Currently, the La Seu d'Urgell airport is being developed; we just need to define when construction will begin. This "Andorra-Pyrenees" airport will be an international airport located half an hour from Andorra's hotels and could be operational within a year and a half or two. This will greatly help us attract conference tourism, senior citizens, and tourists from further afield. AENA will manage the airport.
What are the tourism projects that are about to begin?
We must take advantage of what nature has given us. In winter, there's snow; in summer, we have lakes and mountains for hiking and canyoning, with extraordinary scenery. There's a network of about thirty mountain huts, each about an hour and a half's walk away, where you can find firewood, tables, beds, and more. You can fish for trout in the lakes, and there are companies that rent horses. I'd like to point out something basic and extremely important: public safety. Throughout the country, you can walk the streets at any time with complete peace of mind, as there is neither vandalism nor crime. Public safety is 100%, both in the town and in the surrounding areas.
How would you define the relations of the Principality of Andorra with Spain and with France?
Relations with both countries are extraordinary. Andorra is considered a third country by the EU. We don't want to join the EU because this would bring many drawbacks, but we are negotiating a cooperation agreement where Andorra doesn't lose its essence and we aren't detrimental to the European economy in fiscal terms.
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