The Pazo de Villar de Francos hosted on Tuesday, November 11, the fifth edition of a gathering that brought together more than 150 professionals and institutional representatives from the Costa da Morte tourism sector. The Costa da Morte Tourism Association (CMAT) closes the 5th Costa da Morte Tourism Meeting with a very positive outcome—an established event that every year brings together public bodies, the business sector, and professionals from across the territory.
Institutional involvement in the development of Costa da Morte
Hosted by Radiovoz presenter Francisco Rodríguez, the event began with remarks from the mayor of Carballo, Daniel Pérez, this year’s host. In his welcome, he expressed his gratitude for choosing the Pazo de Villar de Francos as the venue and stressed the importance of “counting on all parties to achieve a solid sector, from local residents to public administrations,” a message that set a collaborative tone for the session.
Next, the Vice President and Tourism Deputy of the A Coruña Provincial Council, Xosé Regueira, focused his address on consolidating the destination as a cohesive and competitive space. Regueira emphasized how special 2026 will be for Costa da Morte—due to both the eclipse and the Xacobeo triennium—and highlighted the challenges and opportunities linked to these two events, which the local fabric should leverage to build visitor loyalty.
The institutional block closed with remarks by the Director of the Galician Tourism Agency, Xosé Manuel Merelles, who reviewed the season’s positive figures and the destination’s evolution. Merelles noted that “all data and statistics indicate that Costa da Morte is one of the preferred destinations for visitors to Galicia, represented by more than twenty different nationalities,” and that the territory continues to strengthen its positioning as a destination with its own identity and a differentiated offer.
The private sector reaffirms its commitment
On behalf of the private sector, Pepe Formoso, President of APTCM and CMAT Secretary, presented the talk “Erre que erre, even in the months with R.” Formoso clearly defended associationism and collaboration among companies, highlighting that “it is our responsibility to showcase the quality of our product” and the need to maintain a strong and united business fabric.
Tribute to the bobbin lace associations of Costa da Morte
One of the most moving moments of the afternoon was the recognition of the nine associations of bobbin lace makers from Costa da Morte, a living symbol of a craft that is part of the territory’s cultural and creative identity. On behalf of the honorees, Dolores Lema, Director of the Mostra do Encaixe of Camariñas, thanked for the award and pointed out that this recognition also extends to their mothers and grandmothers—those who taught them everything—highlighting the value of a craft that continues to be passed down through generations.
Marta Lado, Costa da Morte Ambassador 2025
CMAT presented the 3rd Costa da Morte Ambassador award to Marta Lado. The tribute highlighted not only her professional career but also her deep bond with Costa da Morte and her constant advocacy for the language, culture, nature and authenticity of this land: “Marta has that ability to tell the story of the territory through emotion, truth and belonging.”
The actress from Fisterra, Marta Lado, was moved to learn that the gift she received had been crafted by the very lace makers present in the room, and she expressed her gratitude for acknowledging something that is natural to her: being proud of her territory and feeling the responsibility to care for it so that future generations can enjoy it just as she did in childhood.
Unity, identity and a shared future
The CMAT President and Mayor of A Laracha, José Manuel López, closed the meeting with an address centered on collaboration and territorial identity. He thanked the presence of authorities and invited entities, underscoring that this support confirms a real commitment to Costa da Morte. In his speech, he highlighted that 2025 was a year of evolution for the organization, in which the renewal of the Board made it possible to reinforce lines of work and open new paths without losing the shared vision of a cohesive destination.
He insisted on placing people at the center of the tourism project: “No destination stands on campaigns or promotion alone. A destination stands on its people—those who live in it, work it and experience it.”
He closed with a clear call for collective work, reminding that the destination’s progress is the result of a shared effort among administrations, companies, professionals and residents: “If we continue to add efforts, strengthen our identity and value our people’s talent, Costa da Morte will remain one of the most authentic, inspiring and promising territories in Galicia.”
Musical performance and space for conversation
The day concluded with a performance by Antía Muiño, one of the most recognized emerging voices in the Galician music scene. With her intimate and contemporary style, she offered a short concert that immediately connected with the audience and served as the perfect finale to an afternoon devoted to the territory, creativity and local talent.
After the concert, attendees took part in a space designed to foster conversation, strengthen professional ties and continue building relationships among the entities and people that make up the Costa da Morte tourism sector.
CMAT organizes this event thanks to an agreement with the Galician Tourism Agency and also carries out other tourism promotion activities through a grant from the A Coruña Provincial Council.
