Melia Group received an award

Yesterday Benidorm celebrated "World Tourism Day" with a public recognition to those companies and individuals who have supported the development of tourism in the town.
The hotel group Sol Melia, tour operator Tui (of which Thomson & First Choice is part of) and Fernando Vera, Professor of Tourism Management at the University of Alicante were chosen this year for awards, which were divided into 3 categories; International, National and Regional level

Vice President and CEO of Melia Hotels International, Gabriel Escarrer Jaume collected the International award for the group which has a total of 5 four and five star hotels in the town. In his speech he said that despite the economic crisis, the company has invested more than eight million euros in reforming and improving some of its hotels here in Benidorm and that as an organisation view Benidorm as a city worth the gamble.

Benidorm skyline

Ian Livesey, Chief Operating Officer for TUI Spain also collected an award... one of the other giants of tourism in the town. They have had a presence in Benidorm since the 50´s, when they offered 8 options - 5 of which are still in the brochures! They obviously must be doing something right then. "Those that criticize us now will eventually imitate us" was the opening statement published by the group.

Fernando Vera praised the ability of the town to evolve and reinvent itself over the decades... which is necessary in order to survive.

The Councillor of Tourism, Gema Amor and Mayor Agustin Navarro stressed the importance of tourism in Benidorm and that the town has resisted the crisis well with an 8% growth in the UK market. "For the last five decades the town has grown and managed to reinvent itself thanks to a complementary offering of top musical events, five theme parks, golf courses and nightlife". Both leaders also stressed the importance of investment and criticised the lack of financial support from both the Government and the State.

Castle on C/Gambo ready for parade next week

But any money that is available needs to be spent wisely... business owners and residents in one of the towns busiest streets, the Calle Gambo (where Specsavers is located) are already complaining about the flaws and broken pavements. Yet it was only three years ago that the area was totally re-modelled and pedestrianized at a cost of 1.3 billion euros - 780,000 paid for by the Provincial Government and 550,00 by the City ie Taxpayer, some of which is still outstanding. The project began in 2008 and was "the largest investment made by the Alicante Provincial Council in the town"yet some areas have already had to be taped off as there have been multiple trips and falls due to loose paving!

Business owners are furious that after all the disruption and loss of business due to the initial building works it looks like they will be faced with the same again whilst repairs are carried out. It is here that you will get the best vantage point for next weeks Moors and Christians parade - the "castle" is already being erected at the bottom end of Calle Gambo, near to the rubber plant.

With the current financial deficit, the Government is seeking more avenues of collecting revenue. One such announcement made yesterday was that from 1st January 2013, lottery winnings over the sum of 2.500 euros will be taxed at 20%! So if you are planning on a flutter then try for the El Gordo on 22nd December as opposed to the El Nino on 6th January.