Playa del Carmen has taken another step in its international outreach strategy by moving forward with plans for a collaboration agreement with the Spanish municipality of Santa Eulària des Riu, located on the island of Ibiza, to promote joint initiatives in economic development, business, tourism, and culture.
The working meeting was led by Estefanía Hernández, Secretary of Economic Development and Investment Attraction, who met with María del Carmen Ferrer Torres, Mayor of Santa Eulària des Riu; María Fajarnés Costa, Executive Councilor for Economic Promotion, Municipal Cooperation, and Human Resources; and Vicente Marí Torres, President of the Consell Insular d’Eivissa, responsible for Tourism Promotion, Rural Development, and Marine Affairs.
During the meeting, both delegations established the groundwork for a future official visit that would formalize a cooperation and strategic sister-city agreement between the two municipalities. The objective is to strengthen the exchange of experience and create new opportunities for collaboration in sectors considered strategic for both regions.
As part of the meeting, Estefanía Hernández formally invited the Spanish mayor to attend the Feria del Carmen 2027 as a special guest. The festival is one of Playa del Carmen’s most important annual celebrations, featuring religious, cultural, artistic, and commercial activities.
The official noted that the institutional relationship between the two municipalities began during the presentation of the Playa del Carmen City Brand and continued at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, where both delegations expressed interest in developing a shared agenda focused on strengthening business and cultural ties.
Following those initial discussions, both governments agreed to continue working toward an alliance that would encourage the exchange of successful practices and promote projects benefiting both communities.
Among the main areas of cooperation is the proposed partnership between the traditional Fiestas del Carmen celebrated in both municipalities, with the goal of strengthening cultural and tourism exchanges between Mexico and Spain.
The proposal also includes joint initiatives to promote creative industries, sustainable design, and innovation by building on each destination’s experience in tourism, culture, and service industries.
Another key topic discussed was the development of strategies to attract digital nomads, an increasingly important international market segment that offers opportunities to diversify the local economy by welcoming remote professionals who stay for extended periods in tourist destinations.
The agenda also includes collaboration between business communities from both municipalities, the exchange of sustainability best practices, and cooperation in sustainable agribusiness and artisanal fishing.
In this area, both sides plan to share experiences involving agricultural cooperatives, marketing of local products, and strategies to increase the added value of regional economies.
The Municipal Government stated that initiatives like this are part of a broader strategy to expand Playa del Carmen’s international presence by forming partnerships with cities that share similar economic and tourism characteristics. The objective is to encourage investment, knowledge exchange, and the development of joint projects.
If the sister-city agreement is finalized, Playa del Carmen and Santa Eulària des Riu will establish a permanent framework for institutional cooperation that will support cultural, business, and tourism promotion programs while facilitating the exchange of expertise in innovation, economic development, and sustainability.
Source: quintanaroo.heraldodemexico
