Experts analyze in Benidorm the effects of Brexit in the tourism sector

Is Brexit a threat to tourism in Benidorm and the Costa Blanca? , this question that has been answered this morning in Benidorm City Council, during the meeting that has gathered in the hall of municipal events experts, industry professionals and authorities of the tourism administration. Organized by the Chair of Tourist Studies "Pedro Zaragoza Orts", of the University of Alicante, the call has had the collaboration of the Secretary of Tourism of the Valencian Community, TurEspaña, Visit Benidorm, Hosbec and the Department of Tourism of Benidorm City Council.

Entrepreneurs, professionals and students of Tourism filled the capacity of the auditorium to attend the cycle of conferences that Álvaro Ramírez de Haro initiated, of the law firm Pérez -Llorca, and that addressed the political and strategic keys of Brexit in the European environment .

The mayor of the city, Toni Pérez, welcomed the attendees and congratulated the Chair "Pedro Zaragoza" and those who have participated in the organization of this day "to open," he said, "a space for reflection and debate on an issue that affects us from many sides ". The first mayor has also emphasized the consequences that Brexit can have on those who decided to come and live with us; "Those Britons," he said, "are part of our society that are perfectly integrated and also feel that uncertainty that seems to be over all." Toni Pérez recalled that since the approval of Brexit 3 years ago, the city has been working "to reposition the destination in the British market by reinforcing the promotions in a more direct way and moving that image of hospitality and generosity that Benidorm has always had." the mayor stressed that the local administration cannot act in international conventions, or intervene from the parliamentary point of view, "but we can," he said, "reconvert ourselves permanently to remain that attraction pole we want to continue being" .

The director of the Chair of Tourism Studies, Jorge Pereira, and the Regional Secretary of Tourism, Francesc Colomer, also participated in the presentation of a meeting in which Javier Piñanes, director of the OTS of London, spoke about the market. British tourist to Spain; Tomás Melgar, director of the Alicante-Elche airport, who referred to the planning of the Alicante airport before the Brexit; Alex Villeyra, CEO of Mabrian Analytics, who addressed the reality thrown up by the data and, finally, Susana de la Peña, from Industry Lead Travel and Hospitality GFK, who referred to the figures of the British tourism market.