Secretaría de Estado de Turismo

The Secretaría de Estado de Turismo (Secretary of State for Tourism) is a Spanish government body operating under the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. It is responsible for granting and, as evidenced by recent news, revoking the designation of events as being of National Tourist Interest. The organization is newsworthy due to its decision to initiate proceedings to revoke the National Tourist Interest status of Sagunto's Holy Week (Semana Santa) celebrations. This action stems from the Cofradía de la Purísima Sangre's vote to continue barring women from participating in processions. This decision by the religious brotherhood prompted the Secretaría to act, citing incompatibility with modern values. Additionally, the Secretaría de Estado de Turismo is preparing for a significant influx of tourists for the upcoming solar eclipse on August 12th, viewing it as a major national challenge due to the high volume of both residents and tourists already present in Spain during that period.