The mayor of Benidorm claims a "great state and autonomous pact" for the financing of tourist municipalities

Toni Pérez has taken part in the Europa Forum requesting more and better infrastructures and connections for the city

In addition to the Tren de la Costa and a direct rail link with Alicante-Elche airport, the first mayor urges to recover the National Hydrological Plan

The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, has called Wednesday "a great state and autonomous pact that provides comprehensive solutions to the financing of tourist municipalities." Pérez has launched this demand today in Valencia during an informative breakfast in the 'Forum Europe. Mediterranean Tribuna ', organized by New Economy Forum with the sponsorship of Bankia and in which the mayor has emphasized that it is indispensable that "the singularity of Benidorm be recognized", for "what it represents for the country's economy in attracting Currency and for its contribution to the "regional and Spanish GDP".

Pérez has exposed the problem faced by Benidorm daily in providing services and meeting the needs "of a stable population of about 150,000 inhabitants," twice the number registered, and at peak times of the year rises to " 350,000 figure. " The improvement of this situation does not contribute the action of the Valencian government, based on "delivering competences without endowing us with resources". In this regard, he pointed out that the Generalitat must "reverse" this policy and "undertake the decentralization of economic resources in favor of local administrations, to better address the competencies that are our own."

At this point, he stressed that this "necessary" financing must be accompanied by "intelligent investments driven from the height of vision and with a vision for the future." Therefore, it has demanded more and better infrastructure and connections for a city like Benidorm, which "represents more than 6% of the Gross Domestic Product of the Region of Valencia" and "40% of the tourist activity" of the region.

Among the infrastructures claimed to "strengthen tourism competitiveness", Pérez has located the Tren de la Costa, a direct rail link with the airport of Alicante-Elche, and better connectivity with the latter also by road.

After arguing that the integral water cycle in Benidorm is "one of the most efficient in Europe" because of its high rates of reuse, it has insisted on the need to "recover the National Hydrological Plan", putting an end to the "insolidarity" of those who They oppose to transfer water from the watersheds with surplus to the deficit.

"Benidorm and its environment need security in the water supply, to continue growing in its contribution to economic and social, regional and national development," he said after stating that "the desalination plants should only be a complement to the transfers."

In front of public and business representatives throughout the Valencian Community, Pérez stressed that Benidorm's success as a paradigm of sun and beach tourism with its 11.5 million overnight stays in 2016 "is not casual", but the result of sustained work in The time on the part of the local administration and the business sector.

The mayor also spoke about the future challenges and actions and strategies of Benidorm in terms of innovation, technology, accessibility and sustainability.

Thus, the mayor has endorsed the commitment and work of the City Council and the Visit Benidorm Foundation in making the city one of the main smart tourist destinations, promoting "economic, social and business progress through innovation and knowledge" . This intelligent management "will allow us to be more efficient, improve the quality of services and optimize public spending" as well as "be more competitive" tourism.

Pérez has reviewed the latest technologies implemented and tested in Benidorm in tourism - such as 'beacons' or free Wi-Fi on the beaches - and highlighted the return that generates its use as information, key to improve the management of the destination . He then recalled the city's commitment to "universal accessibility" and the steps being taken to "position Benidorm as the most accessible beach and sun destination in Spain."

Finally, he stressed that the sustainability of Benidorm is evident not only in its urban model - once it has been established that the 'vertical city' is the most efficient and the least resource consumed - but also in its integral water cycle and in their policies of protection and promotion of the environment.