Benidorm processes its Historical Heritage Signaling Plan, with 6 pedestrian routes, avatars and virtual recreations

Benidorm City Council begins next week the processing of its Smart Directional Signage Plan linked to Historical Heritage, one of the projects included in the Tourism Sustainability Plan. With this project, Mayor Toni Pérez explained, "progress is made in the reconversion of the city and the quality of the experience of the people who visit us is improved, putting in value our historical, cultural and landscape resources and doing it, in addition, in an accessible and sustainable way.

Toni Pérez has pointed out that "in this project, technology is of paramount importance", and has assured that the implementation of the Signage Plan "is going to represent a qualitative leap in how we show the tourist, and also the resident, our heritage offer, cultural and landscape and how we propose to live it”.

As a preliminary step to drafting the project, the different heritage and technological resources in progress have been analyzed and 27 points of interest in the city have been defined. From there, the plan proposes, among other actions, the configuration of six pedestrian routes that will connect the main points of interest. Specifically, the historical route, the historical landscape route, the Espais d'Art Urbà route, the viewpoint route, the park route and the museum-cultural route have been configured.

“We are talking about six routes of moderate distance, designed to be travelled on foot, taking advantage of the fact that Benidorm's orography favours pedestrian traffic; and, therefore, favouring the enjoyment of this tourist resource in a sustainable way”, he pointed out.

Toni Pérez has detailed that, in addition to the direction signs with posts and modules with QR codes and the Navilens system -which is incorporated into the project-, information panels are planned at each point of interest and five interpretive tables in Tamarindos, Paseos de Levante and Poniente, Castell and Racó de l'Oix. In addition, information stands will be installed with the six pedestrian routes, an interactive totem and two information screens on places of interest, which will be located in Elche Park and Paseo de Levante.

But, without a doubt, the elements of augmented reality "are the differentiating aspect of this Plan, which embraces new technologies and makes them available to the destination and the users to give an extra attraction to their experience and bearing in mind that this experience can be enjoyed by all. Among these elements is "the expansion of avatars, which will perform the function of guides, in the style of the one already operational in El Tossal de la Cala". The avatars that will be launched in El Castell, Torre de les Caletes and Torre de Morales will work with geolocation and will have a historical characterization of the period to which each heritage element is circumscribed; while there will be a contemporary avatar that will be activated anywhere and that will transfer the history of Benidorm from the 60s of the last century to the present.

Likewise, augmented reality will be used to visualize landscapes, historical recreations, places and buildings as they were in their time, for example, inside l'Hort de Colón.

In addition, all these actions and elements will be complemented by the launch of a space and a specific app.

Toni Pérez has reported that this Intelligent Directional Signage Plan linked to Historical Heritage is valued at 400,670.93 euros and that the Local Government Board (JGL) will approve the specifications and the contract tender next Monday.

Tourism Sustainability Plan

Benidorm's plan was one of the 25 Tourism Sustainability Plans approved by the Secretary of State for Tourism among the more than 150 applications submitted nationwide. Its purpose is to consolidate the city as a smart, sustainable and safe tourist destination through the development of 19 actions that will also contribute to the recovery of tourist activity after the crisis generated by Covid-19. This Plan is multi-annual and is endowed with 2.9 million euros, provided by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Turisme Comunitat Valenciana and the City Council.

The 27 points of interest

The 27 points of interest established in the Plan are Torre de Morales; the archaeological site of Tossal de la Cala; the Tamarind Walk; the Paseos de Poniente and Levante; the Espais d'Art Urbà Ponent, El Campo, Els Tolls, El Carrasco, Hispanitat and El Pont; the Parks of Elche, Foietes, Aigüera -with its amphitheater and auditorium- and Séquia Mare; the Route of the Viewpoints; the Castle; Church of Sant Jaume and Santa Anna; Boca del Calvari Museum; l'Hort de Colón; Bullring; City hall; Cultural center; the future Classroom of the Sea; the viewpoint of La Cruz; the Torre de les Caletes; and l'illa.