The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has formalized an agreement with Turespaña for the use of the graphic materials held by the Spanish Tourism Documentation Center. The agreement, signed by Undersecretary Pablo Garde Lobo and Secretary of State for Tourism Rosario Sánchez Grau, authorizes the free transfer of intellectual property rights to posters, brochures, and postcards for the publication of the book 'The Image of Spain Through Its Tourist Posters'. The initial term of this transfer is set at five years, renewable up to a maximum of fifteen. This highlights one thing: The intellectual property rights to the image of Maspalomas belong to the State.
The collection recovers key pieces from the historical archive that document the consolidation of tourism in Gran Canaria. The record includes poster number 74-09, titled 'Maspalomas Beach, Gran Canaria: Canary Islands, Spain', a crucial piece for understanding the development of accommodation and sun and beach tourism in the south of the island. This document is integrated alongside other strategic representations of the island's geography, such as reference 68-22, focused on the Cruz de Tejeda National Parador, and 62-22, which captures Las Canteras Beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The agreement's clauses impose strict controls on the use of this material. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism assumes responsibility for using these images exclusively for the planned publication, prohibiting their transfer to third parties. The administrative text emphasizes the obligation to expressly cite the original source: 'Collection of the Spanish Tourism Documentation Center, Spanish Tourism Institute'. Furthermore, Turespaña will receive 20% of the proceeds from each print run as part of its compliance with the agreement.
The recovery of this visual archive seeks to trace a genealogy of Spanish promotional design from the late 1920s to the 1980s. The inclusion of landscapes from Gran Canaria in this official publication reaffirms the archipelago's position as a historical cornerstone in the development of the national tourism brand. Should the Ministry fail to meet the intended objectives or misuse the images, the agreement stipulates the automatic termination of the transfer and the reversion of rights to Turespaña, in accordance with the Law on Public Administration Assets.
The inventory of donated pieces details specific references to the archipelago. Among them, the signature 29-15 stands out, under the title 'Tenerife: les îlles fortunées: visitez l'Espagne' (Tenerife: the fortunate islands: visit Spain), reflecting the tourism marketing of the 1920s. Other key references include 32-02, 'Îles Canaries: jardin au délicieux climat: île de calme et de repos' (Canary Islands: garden with a delightful climate: island of calm and rest), along with 40-01, 40-06, and 41-02, all generically titled 'Islas Canarias: España' (Canary Islands: Spain). These images, which have been crucial in building the Spain brand in international markets, will now be available for editing and analysis under the technical and intellectual property conditions stipulated in the agreement.
The use of these official documents reflects the institutional commitment to compile the evolution of national tourist signage from 1929 to the 1980s. The inclusion of the Canary Islands in this collection is based not only on geographical criteria but also on their specific significance in the history of modern tourism. The Ministry of Industry and Tourism will manage the commercial and editorial use of these images under an exclusive agreement, guaranteeing the historical traceability of each document through mandatory citation of the source in the publication.
