Por Redaccion 
The Benidorm City Council has requested 709,609.99 euros in grant funding for the execution of four projects related to improving accessibility, mobility, the environment, and adaptation to climate change. The request is part of the grant call for local entities within the framework of cohesion between destinations in the Valencian Community, an intervention integrated into the Territorial Plan for Tourism Sustainability of the Valencian Community 2021, funded by the EU under the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan. These projects will be presented in the upcoming informative commissions.
The first project for which funding has been requested falls under Program 1 ‘Adaptation to climate change in tourist spaces through the provision of shade islands’ and involves installing these islands in the urban parks of Rincón de Loix, Foietes, and Avenida de Bélgica for climate change adaptation. These spaces are located in urban areas with high visitor density, and their potential users are not limited to the resident population but include users of tourist accommodations, second homes, and hotel clients in the area.
«The intervention is part of the city’s strategy as a DTI focused on sustainability, accessibility, and continuous improvement of the visitor experience,» explained Francis Muñoz, Councilor for Public Space. He emphasized that creating shaded areas «not only addresses a climatic need but also improves the quality of public space, strengthens social and touristic cohesion between neighborhoods, and contributes to diversifying urban leisure offerings.» The installation of sails and shade awnings in these spaces, and overall, the entire intervention «promotes climate resilience, universal accessibility, and improves urban quality of life, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing direct exposure to solar radiation and lowering surface temperatures in urban areas,» added Muñoz.
Other positive effects of this project include reducing energy consumption, thermal stress, increasing the use of public spaces, and enhancing the perception of urban environment quality. The grant requested for this project amounts to 124,448.07 euros.
The next project is the implementation of a comprehensive perimeter enclosure in the camping and multi-adventure area of Séquia Mare Park, part of Program 2 ‘Improvement of equipment and facilities for awareness, protection, and sustainable use of natural resources. The aim is to ensure its safety, accessibility, functionality, and conservation, and is included in the park’s transformation strategy into a benchmark space for green, educational, and family tourism,» explained the councilor. Other specific objectives include enhancing the safety of the site and users, protecting the park’s natural and historical environment, increasing privacy and comfort during activities, facilitating operational management and access control, and ensuring universal accessibility for all visitor profiles, among others. The grant requested by the City Council amounts to 185,227.83 euros.
The municipality has also requested 200,000 euros for a third project named ‘Improvement and duplication of the cycling infrastructure on Albir Avenue to enhance the tourist use of the cycling infrastructure,’ falling under Program 3 ‘Sustainable tourist mobility.’ The CV-753 is the main connection route from Benidorm to the Albir area and is the preferred route used by tourists from both locations to visit the two areas.
Francis Muñoz stressed that the significant increase in camping spots «has led to a rise in cycling traffic on the road, making it essential to improve and expand the bike lane, signage, and adapt everything for greater road safety.» Among the planned actions are the doubling of the bike lane, improving the existing one, creating a roundabout for access to Villamar campsite, and expanding the bike lane. This reconfiguration «will enhance safety and accessibility, optimize the integration of road users to ensure better coexistence between pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.» Additionally, this intervention will help reduce pollutant and noise emissions, thus contributing to environmental sustainability. The councilor also noted that it will «boost the competitiveness and profitability of Benidorm’s tourism sector, aligning with the objectives of Spain’s Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2030.»
Finally, the City Council has requested a grant of 199,934.09 euros to implement the project ‘Improvement of tourist accessibility at traffic light crossings through acoustic signaling and the creation of pedestrian refuge islands,’ based on Program 4 ‘Actions to improve the tourist space.’ This project will focus on four of the city’s main avenues – Beniardá, Jaime I, Alfonso Puchades, and Europa – all of which are of great touristic relevance with high traffic flow of vehicles and pedestrians.
For this purpose, 40 acoustic signaling devices will be installed at traffic lights, and the construction of around twenty pedestrian refuge islands is planned. «The intervention will also help consolidate Benidorm’s image as a DTI, where innovation serves inclusion,» affirmed Francis Muñoz. The project’s objective is to «move towards a more accessible, inclusive, and safe tourist city model» by improving urban infrastructure at traffic light crossings in high tourist influx areas.