Alex Trelinski
A PLAN to boost Benidorm’s tourism by offering cheap accommodation and dining packages has hit the buffers.
The Valencian Community’s decision to close its border from October 30 has left around 2,000 bookings up in the air.
Benidorm Resort was launched last month to offer week-long accommodation and meal deals averaging out at around €205 per person.
The initiative from local hospitality associations and real estate companies was marketed via a special website as well as over 5,000 travel agencies in Spain.
Bookings were brisk but domestic and international travel restrictions have thrown a spanner in the works.
In a statement, Benidorm Resort said: “We hope to transfer many of the postponed reservations to the second half of November. We will get a high occupancy rate during the Bank Holiday period in early December and over Christmas.”
Benidorm Resort is assuming that the Valencian Community border restrictions will be lifted soon despite the new COVID-19 case figures matching those seen at the start of the pandemic.
The Benidorm-based hoteliers association, Hosbec, has estimated that the regional border closure has cost 28,000 overnight stays in the area.
It says that at best, only 10 per cent of the resort’s hotels will remain open over winter, compared to the normal 75 per cent figure.
