Seville will be the setting for 68th National Congress of Skål Spain, a meeting that Skål International Sevilla faces with the dual feeling of someone who receives an honor and, at the same time, assumes an important responsibility.
Under the motto «"Tourism with Soul"», The Seville club wants to go beyond the well-known image of the capital and reveal to participants another dimension of the destination: the province, its products, its gastronomy, its traditions and, especially, the people who make the tourist experience possible.
We talked with Manuel Domínguez Solís, president of Skål International Sevilla, about the philosophy behind the Congress and what they hope participants will take away with them when they return home.
Manuel, what does it mean for Skål Sevilla to take on the organization of the 68th National Congress?
For Skål Sevilla, the celebration of the 68th National Congress has a dual aspect: the honor of being in charge of organizing it and, at the same time, the commitment that its realization entails.
We want to thank Skål Spain for the trust they have placed in us, and this encourages us to recover the spirit of those congresses in which every hour served a common purpose: to get to know each other better, to share experiences and to live out the philosophy of our organization, which is about building friendships through working and collaborating together.
Our ultimate goal is to achieve the full satisfaction of all participating members.
You have chosen "Tourism with Soul" as the motto for the Congress. What does it mean to you?
For us, it is a motto that perfectly reflects what we want to convey.
We want to go beyond concepts such as urban planning, history, culture, or tradition and focus on the true essence of tourism.
Tourism is about discovering new places, cultures, and traditions, but none of that would be possible without those who welcome visitors: local people and tourism professionals. Much of a destination's success lies in its unique character and in the professionalism of the people who work there.
We want to further develop this way of understanding tourism, treating our clients like true friends and loved ones. That affection, born from the people who live in a place so that others can enjoy what they themselves love, is, for us, the soul of tourism.
Seville is world-renowned. What different perspective did you want to bring to the programme?
We all know that Seville is an outstanding tourist destination, but with this Congress we wanted to go a step further.
Our aim is not only to showcase the Seville everyone knows, but also to introduce visitors to new experiences, from touring olive mills and wineries to enjoying the rich gastronomy of the province.
These are attractions and experiences that are not always included in traditional itineraries, and we want to highlight the important role they play in shaping Seville's history, culture, and identity.
The province will therefore have a special role.
Absolutely. Even a small increase in awareness of the province of Seville can be an eye-opening experience for many congress attendees.
We see the city of Seville as the jewel in the crown, but this Congress also gives us the opportunity to showcase the wider province: its countryside, olive groves, olive oil heritage and agricultural traditions, all of which have shaped our history and contributed to who we are today.
It is also a way of honouring our heritage, our gastronomy, and the unique character of a province whose people are known for their warmth and hospitality.
A Skål Congress is also an opportunity to strengthen relationships among the members themselves. How important is this camaraderie to you?
The Congress is a continuation of Skål's own philosophy.
All members have both the right and the responsibility to share our experiences with other Skålegas, so that personal relationships can become even stronger than professional ones.
Both go hand in hand, but the most important thing is always the person: the professional and the opportunity to share experiences with people who understand relationships in much the same way as you do.
What role do you think Skål can play in the evolution of tourism?
Skål can significantly help advance tourism by relying precisely on the essential principles of our organization.
We must strive for higher quality, greater commitment, and a more sustainable sector. All of this can help us pave the way and actively participate in the search for better proposals for the future of tourism.
Málaga and Seville are two key tourist destinations in Andalusia. Is there room for greater collaboration?
I believe there should be a close relationship between both clubs and that this relationship could also help the administrations understand tourism from a broader territorial perspective.
If we look at it closely, greater collaboration between the two territories can only broaden the range of services and experiences available to visitors.
A genuine tourism connection between the two destinations, supported by transport links that facilitate a steady flow of visitors — with high-speed rail as the clearest example of that connection — would greatly increase the potential of what we have to offer.
I sincerely believe that we could become a national benchmark, jointly creating one of the largest and most attractive tourist areas in Spain.
What would you like those participating in the Congress to discover about Seville?
Our character, our culture and our gastronomy, but experienced through what is truly authentic: who we are and where we come from.
We don't just want them to visit Seville. We want them to Live the experience, feel Seville and its people.
When the Congress is over, what feeling would you like the participants to return to their cities with?
We would love to have met their expectations and for all the participants to leave fully satisfied, perhaps even with a touch of sadness at having to say goodbye.
We would like their perception of our region to have changed for the better and for them to return home with an even more positive impression, becoming ambassadors for everything they have discovered during these days in Seville.
And personally, as president of Skål Sevilla, what will it mean for you to have organized this Congress?
In a way, my last answer goes back to the first one.
Committing to this Congress means wanting to share with all my colleagues our particular vision of the territory, our idiosyncrasies and our way of life.
I want to share the very best of what we have to offer and, above all, achieve something that is fundamental to me: that they experience Seville the way a Sevillian does..
There is nothing more beautiful than sharing the good things in life with the people you appreciate.
Skål International brings together clubs, cultures, activities and countries, but in the end, there is only one true Skål: the soul of tourism.
