Benidorm recognizes the tourism contributions of Jet2Holidays, Grupo Social ONCE, AVE, and Abreca on World Tourism Day

As part of the events commemorating World Tourism Day, Benidorm presented its Tourism Awards today, which annually recognise the contribution of tourism companies and organisations to the city's activity and industry. This year, the winners were the tour operator Jet2Holidays in the international category; the ONCE Social Group in the national category; the Valencian Business Association (AVE) in the regional category; and the ABRECA association in the local category. A tribute was also paid to local businessman Vicente Climent Llorca, who recently passed away and who managed the Benidorm Palace nightclub for more than three decades.

The event, held in the town hall's auditorium, was chaired by the mayor, Toni Pérez, and attended by, among others, Senator Agustín Almódobar, the regional representative José Ramón González de Zárate, and the regional secretary of Housing, Sebastián Fernández.

The first to receive its award from the Mayor was Jet2Holidays, the leading international tour operator serving Benidorm and the Costa Blanca, and which, since February 2023, has also been the largest tour operator in the United Kingdom. The company's Director and Director of Operations, David Salafranca, was responsible for collecting the award. On behalf of the company, he stated, "We are very grateful for this recognition and would like to especially thank Mayor Toni Pérez. We consider Benidorm a second home. In fact, Alicante is literally our base outside the United Kingdom. We have been operating in this region since 2003, and almost 23 years later, we are delighted to say that we have brought 7 million British tourists to this land, the majority of whom have stayed overnight or visited Benidorm during their stay on the Costa Blanca."

“In 2024,” he continued, “we accounted for almost 40% of the 900,000 British tourists staying in the region's hotels, and in the same year we moved 660,000 seats at Alicante Airport. By 2025, growth is expected to be over 11%, and we will offer almost 730,000 seats, well above the British market average of 8.5%.”

Following the international category, it was the turn of the national category, which Miguel Carballeda won for the ONCE Social Group, which he chairs. This organization has enthusiastically collaborated with Benidorm City Council over the past few years, promoting accessibility and implementing and developing initiatives that foster an inclusive tourist experience, making the city and destination a benchmark in this field. Carballeda highlighted the growth that the ONCE Social Group has experienced over the years, even promoting its own hotel chain, and explained how all the initiatives they undertake "allow us to be masters of our future" and "help people with disabilities." He also stated that "we are used to giving awards, but we like receiving them," adding that "I hope we repay you in spades and with awards" for this recognition. He then revealed that Saturday's Sueldazo del Fin de Semana is dedicated to World Tourism Day under the slogan "Accessible Tourism for Equality."

Vicente Boluda, president of AVE (High Speed ​​Rail), received the award for the organization in the regional category. This award applauds the association's commitment to holding annual "Tourism Conferences" in the city, which seek to highlight the role of the tourism sector as a cross-cutting economic driver, key to job creation, investment, and social transformation. Boluda noted that these conferences are now 12 years old and explained that they were AVE's response to questions about "why tourism wasn't cared for more and why some in society denigrated it." Since their first edition, these conferences, which "involve entrepreneurs from all sectors" from both within and outside the region, have been held in Benidorm because it is "the flagship of tourism in the Valencian Community."

On a local level, the president of Abreca, Francisco Javier del Castillo, received the award for Benidorm restaurant, hospitality, and leisure association, which over the past four decades has helped strengthen the identity and positioning of the Benidorm brand by promoting gastronomy as a tourism product through 'Benidorm Gastronómico' in collaboration with the Department of Tourism. Del Castillo participated in the 'Ciudad de Benidorm' Tourism Award, honouring all the hoteliers who, for 40 years, "have defended the interests of the sector together, promoting quality, innovation, and sustainability, always with a firm commitment to our city and to the people who visit us." He also shared the recognition "with the residents and visitors who make Benidorm what it is: a unique, diverse, and constantly evolving destination."

Once the Tourism Awards were presented in the various categories, it was time for the Special Mention, which this year went to the recently deceased Vicente Climent Llorca, a businessman who ran Benidorm Palace nightclub for more than three decades and was always convinced of the city's tourism potential. His son, David Climent, accepted this mention, emphasising how his father's "hard work and enthusiasm" managed to "put the name of Benidorm Palace and Benidorm at the top of the world stage", a legacy now continued by his wife and children. On a more personal note, he stated that Vicente Climent "was from Finestrat, but his heart remained in Benidorm," and described him as "a hard worker, a humble person, a great friend to his friends, and an exemplary family man" who, throughout his life ", travelled a lot but was rarely a tourist."

After the Awards and Special Mention presentation, the mayor closed the event, emphasising the importance of celebrating this anniversary as a way to "raise awareness of the value of tourism as an economic, social, and cultural driver." At this point, he noted that tourism currently "generates more than 13% of GDP, making it the country's leading productive activity," explaining "the growth of the Spanish economy," while also "employing more than 3 million workers."
Despite the current positive trend in tourism, the mayor stated that "there are challenges that limit the growth" of the sector, such as "the lack of skilled labour" and "the shortage of accommodations in some areas," as well as "tourismophobia, absurdly encouraged by those who neither understand nor practice the reality of the tourism phenomenon."

He also emphasised that “tourism is a tool for social cohesion, urban regeneration, and cultural projection” and that “municipal projects and strategies” have made Benidorm “a benchmark for the balance between growth and quality of life.” In line with this reflection, Toni Pérez wondered how much Benidorm's contribution to the national tourism GDP could grow if the city were well connected to the airport or if it had the fair funding it deserves as a tourist municipality.

Staying on a local note, in his speech, Toni Pérez noted that the motto chosen this year by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), "Tourism and Sustainable Transformation, "fully fits with Benidorm's strategy, which seeks to maintain its international tourism leadership through technological innovation, universal accessibility, and sustainability."

Toni Pérez explained that this year the city has brought forward the celebration of World Tourism Day due to "two transcendent and highly significant events for the Benidorm brand": "our active participation in the Japan Tourism Fair, in a forum of the European Commission and the Government of Japan on tourism at the Universal Expo Osaka 2025," and "following this, going to the capital of Lithuania" to defend "our candidacy" for the European Green Leaf 2027.

SICTED Awards

As usual, during the event, the SICTED distinctions were presented, recognising the commitment to quality. In 2025, 45 tourism businesses and resources in Benidorm were awarded, including the Levante, Poniente, and Mal Pas beaches; the Centro and Rincón Tourism offices; and the Boca del Calvari Museum. These are joined by the following companies: Climia 2Sleep, Climia Benidorm Plaza, Climia Belroy, ABC Tour Guides Benidorm, Aquaclinic, Autocares Grupo Benidorm SL, Beni Connect Travel Agency, Autocares Martínez, Avanza Movilidad Levante SL, Camping Arena Blanca, Camping Armanello, Camping Benisol, Costa Blanca Tour Services, Fincas Arena, Flash Hotel, Gelateria Pinocchio, Gestaltur, Hotel Brasil, Hotel Cuco, Hotel Olympus, Hotel Don Pancho, Hotel Les Dunes Comodoro, Hotel Los Álamos, Hotel Madeira Centro, Hotel Poseidón, Hotel Poseidón Palace, Hotel Poseidón Playas, Hotel RH Corona del Mar, Hotel RH Princesa, Hotel Voramar, Inmobiliaria Rosemberg, La Cava Aragonesa, Hotel Meliá Villaitana, Meliá Villaitana Golf Club, The Level at Meliá Villaitana, Restaurante D-Vora, Hotel Carlos I, Hotel Dinastic and Hotel Gala Placidia.