The International Association Cultural Itinerary The Way of the Holy Grail in Europe has awarded its Artistic Recognition #verysentirlacultura "Valencia, City of the Grail" 2025/26 to researchers María Genoveva Millán Vázquez de la Torre and María Genoveva Dancausa Millán for their contributions to tourism as a tool for territorial and economic regeneration in the province of Córdoba and Andalusia. The award, promoted by the Losan Clinical Optical Centre through its cultural program, was presented on November 15 at the Cherry Blossom Valencia event, and distinguishes scientific work that links agri-food and cultural heritage with sustainable tourism.
The research provides concrete data on tourism impact, offering strategic value for businesses and administrations. Professor Dancausa Millán's study, based on surveys of 470 oleotourists conducted between October 2023 and June 2024, reveals that the main motivations for gastronomic tourists are learning about production processes (50.1%), tasting local cuisine (40.8%), and attending gastronomic festivals. The typical visitor is middle-aged, with moderate purchasing power and a medium or higher education level. Specifically, 57.4% are men and 42.6% women, with the largest age group being 50-59 (30.4%), followed by 30-39 (27.5%). In terms of education, 32.6% have secondary or vocational training, and 29.3% hold university degrees.
Professor Millán Vázquez de la Torre's work extends this focus to rural and heritage tourism, identifying visitor segments seeking authenticity, nature, and heritage through thematic routes linked to wine, oil, or ham, as well as emerging forms like religious tourism or heritage cemeteries. Her analysis segments demand by motivation, spending, origin, and season, providing tools for designing tourism products. Additionally, her role as director of the Journal of Tourism and Heritage Research and the International Scientific-Professional Congress of Cultural Tourism has projected Andalusian cultural and rural heritage internationally. The congress will hold its twelfth edition in 2026 in Tomar, Portugal, under the theme "Responsible cultural tourism: preserve, respect and share."
The award, part of the #verysentirlacultura program, recognizes female trajectories in culture, art, and science. This year's edition, with collaboration from Hotel One Shot Puerta Ruzafa, Don DJ, and Valencia Noticias, marks a turning point by recognizing academic work with direct economic and tourism planning impact. The accreditation also strengthens ties between the European Cultural Route of The Way of the Holy Grail and the Andalusian academic community, as both researchers have promoted culture and heritage from a scientific perspective.
The International Association Cultural Itinerary The Way of the Holy Grail in Europe works to value the historical, artistic, and spiritual heritage linked to the Holy Chalice of Valencia, encouraging cooperation between territories. The Holy Chalice has a deep connection with Córdoba, as its base, added in the eleventh century, originates from the Caliphate of Córdoba. This link positions Córdoba as the starting point of the Andalusian route of The Way of the Holy Grail, an itinerary that spans from Andalusia to the Valencian Community through Murcia, symbolically uniting the cultural and spiritual heritage of Al-Andalus with the Christian legacy.
