Benidorm is putting out to tender the construction of Aula del Mar, action included in the Tourism Sustainability Plan

The Local Government Board (JGL) today has approved the tender for the project to build Aula del Mar on a plot on the first line of Levante beach. The mayor, Toni Pérez, has indicated that this action is included within the Tourism Sustainability Plan 2021-2023 and proposes to reconvert the current space into "a new cultural, historical and pedagogical resource" that will allow knowing "the maritime history of Benidorm, linked to the Merchant Navy, fishing and trap; and show the environmental value of the marine environment ”.

The mayor explained that “in August of last year the Provincial Coastal Service authorized the construction of the Aula del Mar, which was included in the proposal 'Benidorm DTI + Seguro' with which the City Council attended the call for Tourism Sustainability Plans launched by the Secretary of State for Tourism ”. Benidorm's was one of the 25 proposals selected at the national level among the more than 150 received, and is valued at 2.9 million; an amount financed in three ways by the City Council, the Generalitat Valenciana and the Secretary of State.

Toni Pérez recalled that "Aula del Mar is projected on the 1,445-square-meter plot located at number 35 Madrid avenue, which previously housed the so-called‘ Martínez Alejos chalet ’". Property of the State, the City Council obtained at the end of 2018 the concession of this plot for a period of 15 years with the possibility of another 15 of extension and with zero cost for the municipal coffers.

“This chalet, demolished by the Ministry by judicial decision, was for decades a reference within the physiognomy and urban fabric of Levante, as we are convinced that from next year the Aula del Mar and its green surroundings will be, which will give continuity to the environmental strip of our beach ”, he added.

The mayor has detailed that the project for Aula del Mar and public garden was prepared by technicians from the Architecture department at the end of 2017, and proposes the construction of a small building consisting of three modules that will house an exhibition room, projection space and public toilets. The rest of the plot will be configured with a garden with shaded areas and a promenade facing the sea, finished off with a pavement in different blue tones.

The bidding price for this project is 655,154.50 euros and the execution period is nine months.

Other actions of the Tourism Sustainability Plan

In addition to Aula del Mar, the Tourism Sustainability Plan includes another 18 actions to be carried out or implemented until 2023. For this same year, the Plan Monitoring Commission has decided to address another of the iconic investments of this macroproject: the fourth phase of musealization from the 'castellum' of Tossal de La Cala.

The programmed actions are based on four axes: ‘Infrastructure, more accessible and sustainable connected tourist resources’; ‘Management, intelligent planning and creation and diversification of tourism products; ‘Competitive transformation’; and ‘Hygienic-Sanitary Security’

Apart from those already mentioned, the execution of the Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change and Circular Economy is also included; the implementation of environmental sensors and entrance filters to low emission zones; the promotion of the improvement and implementation of environmental certificates in the destination and companies; and the implementation of a sustainability observatory.

It is also contemplated the improvement of the implementation of quality in destinations and companies, ‘Big Data’ tools and tourism intelligence, and monitoring and interaction with tourists due to the crisis in tourism demand; as well as the incorporation of risk management programs and safety and hygiene protocols, and the training of both managers and organizations for the creation and management of safer tourist experiences.