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Date Published: 11/08/2025

1.3 million boost for Costa Blanca tourism sparks anger over crumbling infrastructure

Provincial council to promote festivals, culture and events while residents face potholes, weeds and broken bins

The Alicante Provincial Council has approved a 1.3 million euro investment to promote tourism across the Costa Blanca, but some residents are questioning the focus on attracting more visitors when basic infrastructure remains neglected.

The funding, channelled through the Costa Blanca Provincial Tourism Board, will be used to market the province’s attractions in both established and emerging markets. This includes a 611,000 euro package for marketing campaigns and 700,000 euros in grants to support local festivals and strengthen tourism activity.

Council president Toni Pérez, who chaired the governing council meeting, said the aim is to showcase “patron saint festivals, culture, gastronomy, landscape, architectural and natural heritage, as well as major musical and sporting events.”

He added, “Our promotional leadership and the privilege of being one of the most sought-after destinations in the Mediterranean allows us to chart a roadmap to consolidate the global projection of the Costa Blanca brand.”

The director of the provincial tourism board, José Mancebo, was also present as the funding package was approved. Line 1 of the aid scheme will go to projects aimed at boosting tourism activity, while Line 2 will support traditional festivals in municipalities across the province.

While the move has been welcomed by those in the tourism industry, some locals feel the priorities are wrong. They point to persistent problems such as potholes, weeds, overflowing bins and broken street furniture in coastal towns like Orihuela Costa, issues that have been a source of growing frustration for residents. These long-standing concerns have left many questioning whether the region can cope with more visitors without addressing the state of its streets and public spaces.

With the summer season in full swing, the streets are already busy with holidaymakers and second-home owners. The new investment is designed to strengthen the Costa Blanca’s appeal, but whether it will be matched with improvements to the infrastructure those visitors rely on remains to be seen.

You might also be interest in: Orihuela Costa to fix long-forgotten tourist signposts

Image: Nacho Ruiz/Pixabay

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