Paradores-Ministry Agreement 2026: Training Stays in Tourism and Hospitality

Key data

Vocational training centers offering tourism and hospitality programs have had, since March 23, 2026, a new official framework for sending their students to complete placements within the Paradores de Turismo de España network. The Subsecretaría Resolution published on March 28 in the BOE formalizes the agreement between the Ministry and Paradores de Turismo de España, S.M.E., SA, setting out the conditions under which these training stays will take place.

This is not an obligation for anyone in the private sector, but it does represent a concrete opportunity for educational centers and students seeking practical training in a leading professional environment.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement has a clear objective: to allow students in vocational training or other qualifications linked to tourism and hospitality to complete their practical training in real establishments within the Paradores network.

The main elements regulated by the agreement are:

• Paradores' role: acts as a collaborating entity, providing its facilities and staff for the supervision of students during their stays.
• Legal framework: the agreement sets out the obligations of each party (Ministry and Paradores) and the specific conditions under which the training stays will take place.
• Qualifications included: vocational training and other qualifications linked to the tourism and hospitality sector.
• Collaboration model: public-private, with Paradores as a public company making its network of establishments available.

The agreement does not amend any previously existing specific regulation indicated in the resolution. It is a new agreement that creates a collaboration framework where none had been formally established at this level before.

Economic and operational impact

From an economic standpoint, this agreement does not generate payment obligations or direct costs for private companies. Nor does it impose additional burdens on participating educational centers.

The operational impact is relevant for two types of organizations:

• Training centers with tourism and hospitality programs: they gain access to a high-level practical training environment, which can improve student employability and the center's reputation.
• Paradores de Turismo de España: takes on the operational burden of supervising students, which involves staff time and use of facilities, while also gaining access to talent in training within the sector.

For the tourism sector as a whole, the agreement reinforces the public-private collaboration model in sector-specific training — a model that an increasing number of companies in the sector use to attract talent before their training is complete.

Who is affected?

• VET students in tourism and hospitality: they can access training stays at Paradores establishments, completing their practical training in a real, sector-leading professional environment.
• Educational centers with tourism sector vocational programs: they have a new official framework for organizing their students' placements at Paradores. They should review whether their programs are compatible and initiate the process.
• Paradores de Turismo de España, S.M.E., SA: takes on the role of collaborating entity with specific obligations regarding supervision and use of facilities.
• Private companies in the tourism sector: they have no direct obligations, but the agreement reinforces the public-private collaboration standard in training that can serve as a reference for similar agreements.

Practical example

A vocational training center in Castilla y León offering the Higher Degree program in Tourist Accommodation Management wants to provide its students with placements in a real, high-level professional environment.

Thanks to this agreement, the center can arrange a training stay for its students at one of the establishments in the Paradores network. Students complete their practical training under the direct supervision of Paradores staff, in real sector facilities. The center incurs no financial cost under the agreement, and students gain experience at one of Spain's leading tourism institutions.

Without the agreement, this type of arrangement would require individual negotiations with each establishment. The legal framework is now defined, which simplifies the process for all interested centers.

What should schools and companies do now?

1. Verify program compatibility: centers with tourism and hospitality vocational programs should check whether their qualifications fall within the scope of the agreement (vocational training and qualifications linked to the tourism and hospitality sector).
2. Review the agreement text: consult the full resolution in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-7160) to understand the obligations of each party and the specific conditions of the training stays.
3. Contact Paradores: initiate contact with Paradores de Turismo de España to arrange training stays for students in the coming academic year.
4. Inform students: communicate to students on tourism and hospitality programs the existence of this placement pathway and its conditions.
5. Private companies in the sector: although they have no direct obligations, they can use this agreement as a reference for establishing similar collaboration arrangements with training centers in their area.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7160