Thread: Benidorm, the next Spanish tourist destination on the path to destruction

AFP: Spain's Benidorm, seeking smarter image, bans beach drinking

They should see what happened in Barcelona, thanks to their fantastic new laws (normativas de civisme) which intended to clean up the city...

- Thousands of tourists less this summer
- Dozens of low category hostals and hostels closed
- Over 500 bars and restaurants closed
...

What is it with Spanish lawmakers?

Bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted isn't it ?

I am in the minority I know but I don't like places that are so over developed, never eat in McDonalds and the like. Alway look for local food and wine where ever we are ( recently had some fantastic Turkish food) We stay away from big tourist areas.

Maybe they think it will allow the locals to have their town back and any jobs that are available. A different type of tourist may come, too many cities have killed off the attraction of going there because they all look the same. Its not so easy to walk a main street anymore and find different shops. Every town centre seems to have the same run of shops almost in the same order too. Being famous for stag/hen night killed off some places for the tourist also. I remember Riga saying it was going to discourage them, after a while.

To be honest Benidorm is not a place I'd like visit.....it sounds too English for my liking and the TV series "Benidorm" is very representative (so I'm told by those in the know) ;-)

It's old news actually. It was makin the newstands about eight weeks ago. You know how important clean beaches are to Costa tourism! Right, well apparently a culture developed in which groups, mostly made up of young people, partied on the beaches way past bedtime; in fact, right through the night.
So the beach cleaning crews couldn't get their jobs done and, as fast as they cleaned the beaches these party-goers dirtied it up again. So it was decided, rightly in my view, that the beaches need a break - so do the cleaners. It is a family resort too. Wouldn't want my kids picking up some of the things those party-anarchists leave behind.

Originally Posted by michael

It's old news actually. It was makin the newstands about eight weeks ago. You know how important clean beaches are to Costa tourism! Right, well apparently a culture developed in which groups, mostly made up of young people, partied on the beaches way past bedtime; in fact, right through the night.
So the beach cleaning crews couldn't get their jobs done and, as fast as they cleaned the beaches these party-goers dirtied it up again. So it was decided, rightly in my view, that the beaches need a break - so do the cleaners. It is a family resort too. Wouldn't want my kids picking up some of the things those party-anarchists leave behind.

Yes, it's known as the 'botellon' and has been going on for a while. It's a bit of a problem because it creates such a mess.

I have never been to Benidorm, but it would be interesting to know what it's like (probably not as bad as it's made out to be).

Well... Jazmines11 was having a laugh at poor old Torre, so I would like to hear her views and chortle about Benidorm !
I've been once out of curiosity on my way investigating the coastlines. Think of Blackpool with high rise concrete flats and lots of egg and chips. Plenty to do, day and night, lots of saga holidays. Nice big beach. You can see the blocks rise up out on the horizon from miles away.
Sorry to any of you living there, but I can only say as I saw.

I understand most of your comments, unfortunately the issue is that in practice such laws destroy tourism and local business when applied. Take this example:

A british tourists comes to Benidorm (with his whole family) and this since years. He is enjoying a nice sunbathe and decides to drink a beer (God forbid!). A patrolling policeman spots this Brit and gives him a nice hefty fine of 500€. The Brit is appaled, goes home only to never return to Benidorm. Not to mention that all his friends will agree.

Extrapolate this by a few thousand people and you destroy the reputation of a resort.

I can see where you are coming from Greg, but as 'Brit' I tend to stay away from the seaside costas for just that reason the badly behaved Brits ( and others)and their brats are not how I would want to spend my hoilday or to live there, Lord help the poor folks that lived their by choice before and now have all the extranjeros to cope with.

Now before somebody jumps on me from a great height yes I have kids and no they were never angels but they knew and know how to behave in public and respect others peace, space and property and yes it is not only the Brits that behave badly.

Drunken foul mouthed adults and their running riot kids are not my thing anywhere.

Yes jobs will go and livelyhoods lost but in my opinion the reputation of these resorts have already been spoilt by such behaviour, greed of the businesses and conduct of the authorities.


Phew coffee time >>>>>>>>>>