Toledo's deputy minister of Culture and Sports, Carmen Teresa Olmedo, has highlighted the necessity of developing a sustainable tourism model that harmonises the economic significance of tourism with the preservation of cities and their heritage. Olmedo stated, “We must, especially as administrations, think and rethink the tourism model we want for our cities, making it sustainable.” She noted that tourism is “a crucial source of income, one of the first for this country,” underscoring the importance of reconciling economic and conservation priorities.
Olmedo made these remarks during the opening of the exhibition ‘From the Grand Tour to the Free Tour: How Did We Get Here?’ at the Castilla-La Mancha Library in Toledo. The exhibition traces the history of travel and the evolution of tourism, from religious, commercial, and cultural journeys to today’s mass tourism. Through a collection of books, maps, engravings, travel guides, magazines, and historical documents, the display illustrates how travel practices have transformed and how the image of key tourist destinations has been shaped.
Toledo is prominently featured in this exhibition, which also encourages reflection on the impact of tourism on cities, the conservation of heritage, and the challenges posed by the current tourism model.
