On Thursday starts the XVIII International Tourism Forum, which this year is about 'Smart Beaches'
Benidorm hosts from tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18, until Thursday the XVIII Congress and the International Exhibition of Beaches-Ecoplayas 2016, organized annually ATEGRUS-the Technical Association for Waste Management, Urban and Environment Toilets and constitutes a meeting point for managers of public administration and companies providing services on beaches. On Thursday in the Assembly Hall of the City Hall is celebrated the XVIII International Benidorm Tourism Forum, which this year is about 'Smart Beaches' and smart destinations. The mayor Toni Pérez, has presented today both events along with the General Director of Tourism of the Generalitat, Raquel Huete; ATEGRUS vice president, Rafael Apraiza; the president of the hotel employer Hosbec, Toni Mayor; and the general secretary of the same, Nuria Montes. Pérez indicated that "these two events embedded in the same week will make Benidorm the epicenter, at national and international level, reflection, study and deepening of everything related to beaches and tourism". The vice president of ATEGRUS reported that the XVIII Congress of Ecoplayas and the related International Exhibition is "a meeting of officials and responsibles of public administration and companies providing services of beaches," which for two days will address issues such as erosion of beaches and possible solutions, sustainable development, new technologies applied to beaches, lifesaving services, cleaning of beaches, and management support. In addition, management experiences also be exhibited in different municipalities. During the Congress the flags Ecoplayas will be delivered. Of these, three are for Benidorm for services provided in Levante, Poniente and Mal Pas. The mayor detailed that this Congress will have "more than 150 participants", as important will be the influx to the XVIII International Tourism Forum, organized by the City Hall the Valencian Agency of Tourism and the department of Tourism Studies 'Pedro Zaragoza Orts' of the University of Alicante (UA), with the collaboration of Hosbec, Visit Benidorm Foundation and Movistar. A forum that includes the 7th Ideas of the Contest Pedro Zaragoza seeking creative proposals applied to smart beaches in Benidorm and is endowed with 4,000 euros that will go to the two best proposals. Pérez stressed that the theme of this year's Forum is tied to the immediate future we want for Benidorm and the need of innovation and new technologies, "turning our beaches in the smart space that allows us to collect data, but above all make much better services. " The General Director of Tourism indicated that transform "information into knowledge" and apply it to the "management" and "action" is crucial to ensure that "Benidorm and Valencia are certified as smart tourist destinations". Hosbec president, meanwhile, stressed that new technologies offer to "be more efficient in service".
