- Coordinated water management guarantees stable, safe, and high-quality seasons for active tourism.
- The season begins with 280 companies, and the Tourist Board and the sector have set the goal of once again exceeding 840,000 activities and €114 million in economic impact.
The Catalan Pyrenees and the Lleida region kick off a new active tourism season, in which water activities play a fundamental role. In this area, Endesa has maintained a collaboration agreement with the Consell Comarcal del Pallars Sobirà (Pallars Sobirà County Council) for over 25 years, ensuring stable flow rates in the Noguera Pallaresa river. This coordinated water management has been key to enabling the growth and consolidation of rafting, a pioneering activity in the country that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The commemorative events, promoted by the Lleida Provincial Council's Tourist Board and the local tourism sector, began in Llavorsí alongside the presentation of the new active tourism season, which starts with 280 companies and more than fifty water, land, and air activities.
Coordinated management makes it possible to guarantee a stable season for water activities on the Noguera Pallaresa river, with optimal conditions of quality and safety. This collaboration model, which is maintained and renewed year after year, provides reliability to the active tourism sector and has proven particularly relevant in demanding contexts, such as the periods of drought experienced in recent years. It has firmly established the Noguera Pallaresa as an internationally renowned setting.
Furthermore, in addition to guaranteeing the appropriate water levels for aquatic activities, when water is passed through the turbines at the area's hydroelectric power plants, renewable energy is also generated. This makes it possible to balance sporting and tourist activities with hydroelectric production. During the presentation of the new active tourism season, Endesa’s Regional Director in Catalonia, Enric Brazís, highlighted that “this coordinated river management and the planning of hydraulic energy production allow us to offer stable seasons for water activities, with high safety and quality standards, consolidating rafting and canoeing as solid tourist, sporting, and economic activities in the region”.
Meanwhile, the President of the Provincial Council, Joan Talarn, explained that ‘throughout these 40 years of rafting history on the Noguera Pallaresa, Lleida has established itself as the leading destination for active tourism.’ Talarn stressed that ‘the data show us the importance of the sector for the development of the Pyrenees and the Lleida region, because last year it generated an economic impact of €114.16 million and provided employment for 1,857 people,’ according to the study prepared by the Chair of Inland and Mountain Tourism at the University of Lleida (UdL).
Along the same lines, the Vice-President of the Tourist Board, Juan Antonio Serrano, noted that ‘we see active tourism as an opportunity to grow in a balanced way and to diversify our economic activity.’ He also announced that ‘we are preparing various initiatives to step up the promotion of our offering in the Catalan, national, and international markets. These include our spring advertising campaign, a video explaining what a rafting experience on the Noguera Pallaresa is like, and the two presentations we will be holding in Madrid and Barcelona this April.’
The President of the Pallars Sobirà Adventure Sports Companies Association, Flòrido Dolcet, stated that ‘the level of water reserves for this season is optimal’ and anticipated a good level of activity. The goal set by the sector is to consolidate the growth recorded in recent years and once again exceed 840,000 activities.
The Director General of Tourism, Cristina Lagé, pointed out that ‘Lleida perfectly represents the tourism model we want for Catalonia: sustainable, regenerative, and high-quality.’
The ‘Pallaresa technique’ that was exported across the country
Furthermore, one of the rafting pioneers in Pallars Sobirà, Jordi Farreny, explained that the Noguera Pallaresa was the birthplace of what became known as the ‘Pallaresa technique’, which is currently used throughout Spain. This was a combination of the French and Peruvian techniques, as these were the two countries from which the first rafting instructors arrived 40 years ago to offer descents on the Noguera Pallaresa.
The event was also attended by the President of the Pallars Sobirà County Council, Carlos Isus, and the Mayor of Llavorsí, Josep Vidal, who highlighted the county's leadership in active tourism. The UdL study notes that Pallars Sobirà has 64 adventure sports companies, followed by the Vall d'Aran with 47, and Pallars Jussà with 32.
During the celebration, the artist Jana Serra, from the company Application Rejected, put on a performance that gave voice to the Noguera Pallaresa. Attendees were also able to enjoy a tasting of local products from the Pallars region.
About Endesa
Endesa is the leading electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. It is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an integrated business model spanning electricity generation, distribution, and supply. Furthermore, the company offers value-added services focused on the electrification of energy use for households, businesses, and public administrations. Endesa is committed to the United Nations’ SDGs and corporate social responsibility. In the latter area, it also operates through the Endesa Foundation. Our team comprises around 9,000 employees. Endesa is part of Enel.