Includes 16 actions for a more sustainable and digital Benidorm that advances in energy efficiency and against climate change
'Verde Benidorm' is one of the 12 projects included in the 2023 National Tourism Plan and achieves 5.5 million financing
The proposal selected by the Ministry will be executed with Next Generation funds in three annual installments
'Verde Benidorm 2024-2026' project is one of the 12 projects throughout Spain included in the 2023 National Tourism Plan launched by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, whose call has been resolved this week. The mayor, Toni Pérez, informed that "for the development of this project the City Council has obtained 5.5 million euros of financing from Next Generation funds with which 16 actions will be carried out to achieve a more sustainable and digital Benidorm that advances in energy efficiency and against climate change and to continue betting on the protection of the territory”.
Toni Pérez indicated that "as reported by the Ministry itself, the priority of this year's National Tourism Plan was the destinations of Sun and Beach and Blue Tourism, and it was mainly focused on recognizing the contribution, weight, and relevance of the pioneering destinations promoting their modernization”.
"We are talking, therefore, about destinations like Benidorm, which more than five decades ago decidedly opted for tourism as its main activity and opened a path to many other sun and beach enclaves."
The mayor pointed out that "as we already anticipated in March, when we presented the first version of the project, 'Verde Benidorm' is articulated in four axes that pivot on environmental sustainability, on improving energy efficiency, the digital transition and competitiveness; and includes actions that have already generated expectation such as the configuration of a vegetated dune on the beach or the construction of a camping and multi-adventure area in Parque de la Séquia Mare”.
The project, prepared by municipal technicians with the support of strategic partners such as Visit Benidorm or Smart Tourism, gives continuity "to the actions undertaken in the Tourism Sustainability Plans 'Benidorm DTI + Seguro' and 'Visión 360', for those who already we obtained financing and which are in the process of development and execution, and in different sectoral plans also promoted by the City Council such as the Action Plan against Climate Change or the Electric Mobility Plan, in whose implementation we will be able to advance now thanks to these 5 .5 million euros from Next Generation funds”.
In short, "it will allow us to advance in the objectives that we set ourselves in 2015 to multiply our capacity to diversify the tourism market, having a greener city and destination, resilient in the face of climate change, with higher quality standards of life and in which economic, environmental and social sustainability is gained day by day”.
Toni Pérez highlighted that the inclusion of Benidorm in this National Blue/Sun and Beach Tourism Plan "recognizes the importance of a destination that has always been a pioneer, which has known how to adapt to new needs and realities, always maintaining the essence with the one that was born: generating happiness in the millions of tourists who visit us every year and always doing so with absolute respect for our privileged environment”.
Actions proposed in 'Verde Benidorm'
'Verde Benidorm' is structured around four main points. In the first, the Green Transition, two projects are proposed for a total amount of 933,271.22 euros: the development of management actions for public use in the natural space of Moralet Park -452,168.33 euros- and the protection of the beach against Climate change with a vegetated dune -481,102.89 euros-.
Axis 2 is the second largest, with an investment of 1,913,495.18 euros, and provides for three actions: development of the Benidorm Electric Mobility Plan (MOVELE) -with 596,841.11 euros-, implementation of a photovoltaic installation in parking deterrent -633,009.30 euros-, and rehabilitation of ornamental lighting of the 'Andrea' columns on Paseo de Levante -683,644.77 euros-.
Axis 3, the one dedicated to Digital Transition, proposes an investment of 564,487.44 euros for four projects: a digital traveler's notebook and augmented immersive reality technologies at the tourist office, taking 'Benidorm Land' one step further -76,019.11 euros-; DTI digital twin for calculating the floating population -133,888.22 euros-; platforms for emergency management and communication -235,159.17 euros-; and intelligence system environmental parameters destination hotel sector -119,420.94 euros-.
Finally, Axis 4 is the one that collects the greatest investment, 2,088,746.16 euros. This section has included the rehabilitation of the tourist offices in El Torrejó municipal center -343,663.75 euros-; the construction of a camping and multi-adventure area in the Parque de la Séquia Mare -741,513.88 euros-; the creation of a new tourism offer 'care lab' -256,860.08 euros-; certification and training in sustainability -44,408.11 euros-; technical plan management office -217,514.73 euros-; improvement of the quality of the destination through the SDG advance operational plan -90,486.39 euros-; and park-and-ride parking space and reorganization of the traffic -394,299.22 euros-.
