LALIGA and Aficiones Unidas, held a new edition sports tourism project Viajes de Encuentro during the weekend when we beat Girona FC 1-0 on the weekend.
This initiative aims to raise awareness of the city, its gastronomy and culture among Girona FC fans, who headed to Palma and enjoyed various organised activities in collaboration with the club and Palma City Council.
The edition began on Saturday with a meal at Son Moix, followed by an institutional photo in the presence of Jaume Martínez, Mayor of Palma, and Alfonso Díaz, CEO of RCD Mallorca Business.
Later, the fans were given a tour of the stadium and enjoyed the night off with various discounts to get to know the city.
On Sunday morning, all the fans boarded a tourist bus to see the most characteristic attractions of the island and also had the opportunity to visit Bellver Castle. After lunch and the pre-match preview, they headed to the stadium for the game.
Alfonso Díaz, CEO of Business of RCD Mallorca highlighted "the relevance of this meeting between fans that represents two tourist cities" and referenced "the effort made by RCD Mallorca to the Mallorca Son Moix Stadium redevelopment with which the club has diversified its offering which adds to the concept of a city open to tourism.”
He also congratulated "both the Girona fans and the Mallorcan fans for their good results this season on the pitch and thanked LaLiga and Aficiones Unidas for promoting an initiative that brings the two fans closer together."
Jaime Martínez Llabrés, Mayor of Palma, remarked that "On behalf of the City Council of Palma, we are delighted to be hosting this initiative which has allowed Girona FC fans to get to know our city, a municipality open to Spain, Europe and the world, as well as be aware of its potential as a tourist destination that aspires to boost its role as a reference point to the Mediterranean."
And he also said: "That initiatives like this help to promote understanding and coexistence between fans whose rivalry in footballing terms should not be detrimental to a healthy sense of coexistence. This friendly spirit is what Palma has tried to convey to Girona fans".”
Delfí Geli, president of Girona FC, said: "it is fundamental that the fans can travel and give their full support to their team at rival grounds. Having your fans with you when you travel away, seeing their flags and hearing their chants is priceless. It is the best incentive for the players.
"The Aficiones Unidas agreement permits a unification of prices in most of the LALIGA stadiums which is magnificent. The total price of a trip is usually not cheap. Affordable ticket prices in away zones have only positive effects. From the visitors' point of view, more support for the team, and from the local side, more fans that generate economic return in restaurants, bars and hotels in the area.”
