Mayor Toni Pérez invites citizens to keep alive the commitment to "remain at the forefront and an example of innovation, sustainability, coexistence and leadership"
Benidorm reaffirms its commitment to smart growth that protects the environment and offers opportunities on the anniversary of its founding
Benidorm City Council celebrated the 701st anniversary of its founding as a municipality with its own legal entity this Friday, May 8th, with an institutional plenary session held at midday. Numerous representatives from the city's institutional, cultural, social, and economic spheres participated. Addressing them, and in the presence of the municipal corporation, Mayor Toni Pérez stated that any decision made by the City Council must be "with future generations in mind," while reaffirming the municipality's commitment to "smart growth that protects our environment, diversifies our economy, and guarantees opportunities for all."
The event, which was assisted by a sign language interpreter, was attended by the delegate of the Valencian Government in Alicante, Agustina Esteve; the vice president of the Provincial Council and mayor of Albatera, Ana Serna; former mayor Rafael Ferrer Meliá; Senator Agustín Almodóbar; and regional deputy Mario Villar. In addition to mayors from the region, such as those of Polop and Relleu, members of the Grup Carta de Poblament (Settlement Charter Group), and representatives of the State Security Forces and Corps and of business, academic, cultural, social, neighbourhood, and festival organisations. Among the latter were the queens of the 2026 Patron Saint Festivals, Laura Ivars Marín and Carmen Guillén Campos.
In his official address, delivered entirely in Valencian, the mayor referred to the founding document agreed upon by Admiral Bernat de Sarrià in 1325, recalling that this Settlement Charter “was not merely a legal document; it was an invitation to inhabit, to build, to resist, and to move forward into the future,” despite the adversities that have recurred throughout its history, such as the lack of water. “The undertaking wasn’t easy, but since that first act of collective will, Benidorm’s history has been one of constant transformation,” he added. “From a fishing village to a haven of cultures, from a coastal enclave to an international symbol of coexistence, openness, and modernity, thanks to the unique character of its people and, in the last century, to tourism.”
“Today, so many centuries later, Benidorm demonstrates that it has not only reinvented itself without losing its essence, but has also grown towards the sky without forgetting its roots in this land and a history won from the sea,” he recalled, making special mention that “throughout all these years, Benidorm has opened its arms to the world without ever closing its doors to memory.”
In the mayor's opinion, “the idea born in 1325 continues to live on today,” and he therefore proposed to all those present that “this 701st anniversary not only be a moment of celebration, but also an act of renewing the pact that unites us with our history and projects us towards the future, because Benidorm is not just a physical place; it is a concept of life and a model of city that we have built over many generations.”
In his official address, Toni Pérez also used data to illustrate Benidorm's importance as a city. For example, he highlighted that “in 2025, Benidorm surpassed 3 million visitors and 16 million overnight stays, consolidating its position as one of the driving forces of tourism in Spain and Europe,” figures which, as he emphasized, “confirm a model that works, that endures, that evolves, and that is winning the future every day.”
Furthermore, he stressed that Benidorm “is not only a tourist success,” but also “the essence of life, diversity, and coexistence.” To illustrate this, he noted that “nearly 35% of Benidorm’s almost 80,000 residents today come from other countries, making the city a global meeting place where different cultures coexist and enrich one another.” He added that Benidorm is also “innovation, a pioneering city in the analysis, management, and interpretation of data to ensure better governance and improve the experience of those who live here and visit us.” And above all, “Benidorm is resilience and sustainability,” two concepts that have made the city a benchmark at the European and global levels, earning it numerous accolades and “demonstrating that it is possible to be a destination of great capacity and, at the same time, responsible towards its environment and its people.”
For this reason, he emphasized that this 701st anniversary “should not only be a celebration, but also a reaffirmation of a commitment: to continue being at the forefront and an example of innovation, sustainability, coexistence, and leadership.”
Mayor Toni Pérez concluded his speech by inviting all those present to “renew this historic commitment with responsibility and ambition, with the certainty that, if we work together, the coming years for this city will be even more extraordinary than those we have already experienced.”
The plenary session ended with the entire council chamber standing to listen to a string quartet perform the Benidorm anthem.
Agenda
The commemoration of the 701st anniversary of the founding of Benidorm will continue this weekend with various events. This afternoon will see the official opening of the Medieval Market, organised by the merchants' association Aico in collaboration with the Department of Commerce, which has been set up in Elche Park and its surrounding area.
Tomorrow, Saturday, May 9th, Plaça de Sant Jaume will host a performance of the town charter (Carta Poblament) by the Grup Carta de Poblament of the Associació de Penyes Verge del Sofratge. The performance will begin at 8:30 p.m., and Professor José Vicente Cabezuelo, Chair of Medieval History at the University of Alicante, will serve as master of ceremonies.
