Students Debate Sanxenxo Tourism At Council

CEIP Magaláns-Dorrón pupils took their tourism debate from the classroom to Sanxenxo’s town hall on May 19, arguing over whether tourism should be limited in natural areas to protect the environment and local communities. The session was held in the council chamber after the school’s fifth- and sixth-grade team finished second in the 11th debate tournament organized by SEK Atlántico, according to Diario de Pontevedra. Local tourism executives, municipal officials and classmates attended the exchange in the Casa Consistorial. The event was organized by Sanxenxo’s education department, the report said. ### What exactly were the students asked to debate? The question put to the students was whether tourism should be limited in natural areas to protect the surroundings and the rights of local communities, Diario de Pontevedra reported. The debate was staged in the Salón de Plenos of the Concello de Sanxenxo, where the students presented a project that had already been a finalist in the SEK Atlántico competition. (diariodepontevedra.es) Fifth- and sixth-grade pupils were split into two teams. One team argued against the motion, while the other defended it, using economic, social and environmental arguments, the newspaper said. ### Which students and local figures took part? Diario de Pontevedra named the team opposing the motion as Pablo Martínez, Sabela Blanco, Uxía Pérez and Adrián Rial. (diariodepontevedra.es) The team in favor was made up of Claudia Montes, Manuel Rodríguez, Diego Maquieira and Alberto Rodríguez. Representatives from Sanxenxo’s tourism sector attended the debate, including Fabián Buezas, commercial director of Viajes InterRías; José Ameneiros, manager of Hotel Mardevela; Dulcinea Aguín, president of Aviturga; and Teresa Salgueiro, a tourism technician for Sanxenxo. (diariodepontevedra.es) Yago Torres, the municipality’s environment councillor, also attended, according to the report. ### What position emerged from the discussion? The tourism-sector panel backed what Diario de Pontevedra described as an intermediate position. The paper said that stance sought to allow “convivencia sostenible” — sustainable coexistence — between tourism activity, environmental protection and residents’ rights. (diariodepontevedra.es) The article said the students’ arguments won approval from the tourism representatives after they laid out their cases from opposing sides. The report did not say the council adopted any formal policy decision at the session. ### Why was the school invited to the council chamber? Nati Parada, Sanxenxo’s councillor for education, invited the students to town hall so they could present the tourism project that had reached the final stage of the SEK Atlántico debate tournament, Diario de Pontevedra reported. (diariodepontevedra.es) The paper described that tournament as a reference event at the national level and as a pioneering competition for primary education. The school identified in the reporting as Magaláns is CEIP Magaláns-Dorrón, according to the Xunta de Galicia school website. That site lists the school’s current activities and identifies it as a public primary school in Dorrón. ### What else happened at town hall? Telmo Martín, Sanxenxo’s mayor, spoke to the students by video call because he was not in the municipality at the time, Diario de Pontevedra reported. (diariodepontevedra.es) The paper quoted him telling the group, in Galician, “Noraboa polo proxecto, que me parece moi interesante e benvidos ao Concello de Sanxenxo que é a vosa casa.” (edu.xunta.gal) After the debate and a question-and-answer session, the students received backpacks with Turismo de Sanxenxo products and toured municipal offices, including the mayor’s office, the report said. ### What comes next for the school? June 2 is the next dated activity listed on the CEIP Magaláns-Dorrón website. (diariodepontevedra.es) The school said students are scheduled to take part in a trip to the Granxa de Río Mouro under the Deputación’s “Vive o Rural” program, focused on rural life, nature and sustainability. (edu.xunta.gal)