The mayor of Salou, a municipality twinned with Calvià since 2018, has participated in the Rei En Jaume festivities' events
Both mayors have given each other representative items from their respective municipalities
The mayor of Salou, Pere Granados, has visited Calvià coinciding with the Rei En Jaume festivities. The municipalities were twinned in 2018. During his stay, he shared tourist experiences with the mayor of Calvià, Juan Antonio Amengual, and participated in the celebration of the 796th anniversary of the landing of King James I on the Calvià coasts in 1229 to begin the conquest of the island.
In the tourism field, both mayors have addressed the current season, sharing a positive analysis of the challenges and progress made. They also discussed their prospects for the coming year. Both municipalities are members of the Association of Tourist Municipalities (AMT), an entity that brings together eight leading towns in sun and beach tourism with the aim of promoting excellence and innovation in the sector.
Mayor Amengual presented to his counterpart the new developments implemented in the municipality in terms of tourism, highlighting the progress made in the development of Calvià as a Smart Tourist Destination (DTI). He also highlighted the improvements in beach accessibility and the expansion of services to more hours and for more months per year, thus seeking to advance the deseasonalisation of tourism.
In another area, Salou actively participated in the Rei En Jaume festivities. A group of giants from the Tarragona municipality participated in the 24th Trobada de Gegants de Calvià (Calvià Giants Gathering), an event that brings together giants and groups from diverse backgrounds in a family and festive atmosphere. This is the Colla de Gegants de Salou Rei Jaume I i Reina Violant d'Hongria, a group made up of 22 people.
As a sign of reciprocity between the two towns, the mayors exchanged gifts representing their municipalities: Amengual presented a Cor de Calvià, a piece by the Calvià artist Carlos Terroba; and Granados, a Stamp of Rei En Jaume.
Calvià and Salou share a common history linked to the figure of King James I of Aragon. An example of this connection is the Rei En Jaume Regatta, a competition now in its 39th edition. The regatta, organised by the Santa Ponça and Salou Nautical Clubs and sponsored by both town halls, recreates the 110-mile journey that King James I made in 1229 to reach the island of Es Pantaleu before reaching the Mallorcan coast and beginning the conquest. This year, the regatta will take place between 10th and 12th September.
