TOURISM IN BENIDORM

Tourism in Benidorm

Abstract

In early nineteen century, the tourist industry of Benidorm started prospering due to the natural beauty of beaches. The construction of the narrow gauge railway contributed a lot in attracting tourist from towns to the coast of Alicante. Benidorm's tourist industry evidenced a severe setback after the Civil Wars but, soon after 1950, this industry grew itself in all endeavors. After the decline of the fishing industry in 1952, that had a significant share in the national GDP, encouraged the town councils to give approvals for the new projects that aimed to promote tourism market. Benidorm tourism industry never looked back after 1967, after the inauguration of the first airport at Alicante. Tourist flocked to the Spanish coastal regions because of the great weather along with the affordable air travel packages. Based upon the successful model of Benidorm, many other holiday resorts emerged in Spain in the mid of seventies. Benidorm hosted a whooping figure of approximately 12 million visitors in 1977, which is just a start to this growing industry. Today, Benidorm is the biggest holiday resort of Spain, responsible in contributing a significant chunk in Spain's tourist industry. The endless hotels and British restaurants throughout the city is a tremendous achievement of this sleepy fishing village barely less than a century ago. Benidorm welcomes approximately five million tourists each year for spending quality time in the resorts of this naturally outfitted town.

Table of Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Tourism in Benidorm1

Potential positive impacts2

Improved economic benefits3

Improved infrastructure3

Potential negative impacts3

Negative impact on local character3

Rise in delinquent behaviore4

Change in culture4

Food and drink5

Increasing living cost6

Westernization6

Recession6

Beaches7

High rise hotels7

Development of Strategies to Improve Future Tourism8

Conclusion8

References10

Web References11

Tourism in Benidorm

Introduction

Within this report firstly, the writer will evaluate socio-cultural dynamics and how these shaped by conflicting pressures from different interest groups such as local residents and non-tourist businesses. Within this, the writer will discuss the socio- cultural positive and negative impacts of tourism in Benidorm and how they are affecting the host community and local businesses. Secondly, the writer will discuss the ways in which these socio-cultural dynamics have influenced strategies to deliver tourism services in Benidorm. Within this, the writer will discuss socio-cultural impacts more in detail focusing more on local and traveller's views on tourism in Benidorm. Lastly, the writer will make recommendations improve Benidorm's potential in the future by taking the socio- cultural positive and negative impacts in to consideration.

Tourism in Benidorm

Spanish economy is progressing since the Civil Spanish War in 1939. Tourism industry of Spain is a major contributor in the development along with the growing agricultural sector which is contributing towards elevating GDP (www.holiday-weather.com). Alicante airport did not open until April 1967, once opened this was the biggest contributing factor to Benidorm´s success as a holiday resort, together with the introduction of modern jet airliners. These made flying more cost effective, and for the first time enabled the average family to enjoy a basic holiday abroad. Passenger numbers reached 8.9 million in 2005, and a new terminal opened in 2009 to cope with ...