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Five Yecla businesses have just been recognised for offering top-notch visitor experiences – and it’s all thanks to their commitment to quality and a local project that’s raising the bar for tourism across the municipality.

 

At its latest annual meeting, Yecla’s SICTED Tourism Quality Committee gave the green light for Bodegas Señorío de Barahonda, Restaurante Estirpe, La Tapeoteca, Mieles de Yakka and the Cayetano de Mergelina Municipal Archaeological Museum to join the municipality’s list of accredited services. Each one reflects something special about Yecla, from its wine and food culture to its rich heritage and natural products.

 

The new additions bring the total number of local businesses proposed for national recognition this year to 19. They will now be submitted to Spain’s National SICTED Committee, which meets in Madrid on Sunday June 15, 2025, where their awards will (hopefully!) be confirmed.

 

This recognition doesn’t come easily. All five companies took part in training sessions and one-on-one support, and passed detailed audits looking at everything from customer service and facilities, to legal compliance and sustainability. Their efforts are now paying off.

 

The Integral System of Tourist Quality in Destinations (SICTED) is a national project led by the Spanish State Secretariat for Tourism, with support from the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP). It’s all about improving the overall quality of tourist destinations, making sure visitors can expect the same high standards across every stop on their trip, while encouraging continuous improvement along the way.

 

The annual meeting was attended by Councillor for Economic Development and Tourism Isabel Pérez, alongside representatives from the Yecla Wine Route, local accommodations, the General Director of Competitiveness and Tourism Quality, Eva Reverte, and Inmaculada Rubio from the town’s Tourist Office.

 

Councillor Pérez said she was proud of the progress made so far. “Our local tourism businesses have understood this system as a way to improve the management and competitiveness of our town’s tourism sector, because they are convinced of the benefits it brings to the entire population of Yecla, and of course, to visitors and tourists who come to discover Yecla,” she said.

 

Support for the SICTED initiative in Yecla has been made possible by funding from the Region of Murcia’s Directorate General for Competitiveness and Tourism Quality, allowing the Town Hall to run training, consultancy and audits for both new and returning participants.

 

A public event will be held in Yecla in the coming weeks to celebrate the recognised businesses, where they’ll be awarded their official diplomas and SICTED certification badges. The event will also help raise awareness of the programme and encourage more local tourism providers to get involved.

 

 

Image: Jep Gambardella/Pexels