Felicity Long
Every year in December, the challenge is on to find a feel-good news story to end the year on a positive note.
This year, the choice was easy: the ongoing recovery of Valencia, Spain.
The city suffered catastrophic flash flooding last October, resulting in more than 230 deaths and parts of the city buried in mud.
To get an update, I spoke with Tono Franco, president of the Visit Valencia Foundation, via a translator.
The state of tourism: "The recovery of the city of Valencia after the flooding last October has progressed strongly," he told me. "The incident mainly affected different areas of the province and three outlying districts of the city, but the urban center and the main tourist areas were barely affected.
"Activity in hotels, restaurants, museums and transportation has continued completely normally for months, thanks to a swift and coordinated response from both the public and private sectors.
"For months now, visitors have found a fully operational city, prepared to welcome them. There are no issues that would negatively affect the visitor experience; on the contrary, the events have reinforced Valencia's commitment to sustainability and resilience, strengthening its position as a safe, responsible destination with notable capacity for recovery."
Who is going there: I asked Franco about the main profile of international visitors who travel to Valencia, and although the market is diverse, he said couples and adult travelers with an interest in culture, gastronomy and the Mediterranean lifestyle are the most common.
"In recent years, family tourism has also grown significantly, attracted by the city's human scale, safety and relaxed atmosphere," he said, adding, "We are also seeing an increase in 'bleisure' tourism, with travelers combining business and leisure."
As to why tourists should choose Valencia vs., say, Madrid or Barcelona, he dismissed the notion of a competition between the cities.
"These are different urban destinations, and they often complement one another. Valencia offers a unique balance of history, culture, innovation and a quality of life that is distinctly Mediterranean," he said. "It is a city that does not aspire to resemble any other: it shows itself as it truly is, with a strong identity reflected in its neighborhoods, its gastronomy and the way people use public space."
No locals toting water pistols: Franco touted Valencia's manageability of scale and its lack of crowds. He stressed that overtourism is not an issue, even in peak periods, although he suggested September through November as ideal for visitors looking for the quietest experience.
Looking ahead: The destination is gearing up for a number of big events, including the Jubilee Year of the Holy Chalice, the 10th anniversary of the Fallas festival (a Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage event) and the total solar eclipse in August.
In addition, the Hispanic Society of America will establish a museum in Valencia in 2026, its first international location. Housed in the Palacio de las Comunicaciones, the Hispanic Society of America -- Coleccion Sorolla will exhibit more than 220 pieces on loan from the Hispanic Society's collection of work by Valencian painter Joaquin Sorolla.