24.5 million Major Funding Initiative in Granada.

The governmental region of Andalucia had prepared a year ago a number of investments in the tourism sector to avoid the prologation of  the crisis. Inevitably, the Easter-employment figures have suffered a little, but tourism remains a vital engine in the economy of Andalucia and Granada represents 15% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

One of the special programs launched last summer was a line of support for reform hotels and lodgings over 15 years. There were 30 million grants throughout Andalucia. The Capital, Granada had 119 eligible establishments of more than 500 that exist in the province, with the requirement that the minimum investment of reform was raised over 600,000 euros.

The Board has approved six submissions in the province, which involve an investment of 24.5 million euros, of which the Government will finance the Andalucian quarter being 6.3 million.

As priority the Governing Council yesterday (14/4/2009) endorsed a major reform to The Alhambra Palace, which was approved by the full council in September 2008. The reform is budgeted at 5.9 million Euros, of which the Government will provide about 1.5 Million. Because the project affects the environment, it is complicated, but it has been considered “priority” by the council. The goal is to build a historic five star hotel, over four floors with SPA. Given the inclination of the terrain, access to future parks will be done through a system of elevators, which are what move the car from the Cuesta del Caidero to the level where they should be deposited. On the outside, the parking is distributed in terraces that serve as a lookout over the city.

The local council is working in coordination with one of the most respected five star Hotels.

The Palace, inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII on January 1, 1910, in addition to the only three hotels in the capital now have this high level, the Santa Paula, Ducks and Nazaríes.

The other two projects involved hotels at which works are planned for 923,000 euros, with a grant from the Board of 230,000 euros, and a significant modernization of San Antón, budgeted at 6.1 million.