Large Cracks Have Appeared And Getting Bigger.

Due to possibly the worst rainfall in 60 years, the old N340 coastal road has take a severe battering, and is starting to slip towards the cliff edge overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

This route connects La Mamola to Castell de Ferro, and has many businesses along this stretch, with the road being utilised by around 1500 people per day. A petition has been set up by some of the local land owners afected by the land slip, and is being handed in to the townhall in Rubite to try and get the repairs carried out as soon as possible.

It is estimated that the remedial works necessary to repair the damage, will be in the region of 2,000 Euros.

Yesterday the Councilor for Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía, Luciano Alonso, went ot Motril to announce an investment of 30 million euros which will completely transform the Costa Tropical as a tourist destination, making it larger and stronger. The regional government will provide up to 18 million euros of the total amount and the rest will be financed by the municipalities and entrepreneurs.

After hearing the good news that Alonso brought to the coast yesterday,the president of the association entrepreneurs, Julio Rodriguez, said that this means a lot to the region and it is a springboard to take that final leap in the tourism for many people working in the sector on the coast.

The Sustainable Tourism Initiative (STI)-aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the region as a tourist destination by promoting and offering quality accommodation that complements that of ‘ sun and beach ‘. As he told the counselor to provide kindness and good weather is not enough, so we must seek other avenues that may be attractive to tourists.

The initiative, which will be implemented over the next four years in collaboration with the Association of Sustainable Tourism on the Costa Tropical and will benefit the 19 municipalities in this area: Albondón, Albuñol, Almuñécar, Los Guájares, Gualchos, Itrabo, Jete, Lentegí, Lújar, Molvízar, Motril Murtas, Otívar, Polopos, Rubite Salobreña, Sorvilán, Turon and Velez de Benaudalla.

The adviser said the plan will prioritise action aimed at promoting a range of quality accommodation in all municipalities in the area, improving the range of leisure and development of segments and the interior, cultural, & gastronomic delights. Alonso made it very clear that the Costa Tropical has great potential: it is one of the sites which can grow and that “can and must do so” under two premises: the pursuit of excellence and not be great destruction. “It has sun, sand,and one of the most visited monuments in Spain, the Alhambra.

Cane/Rum
Also indicated was the need to seek to publicise details of indigenous identity as sugar cane and rum, which will promote the use of new technologies and to install energy saving systems clean. Commonwealth President and Mayor of Motril, Carlos Rojas, said on behalf of the district be “very pleased and very grateful” for the investment to be made on the Coast. “The largest of the province of Granada”.

The investment managed by the Sustainable Tourism Association in which the entrepreneurs in the region have an important role. The current president, Julio Rodriguez, recalled how long it has been demanding a firm commitment of the Government of Andaluia and yesterday has finally made palpable. It has come after much previous work, which has been very difficult to combine different political ideals and thoughts. Thus, in his words, made a statement to each of the mayors of the municipalities in the district who have put their efforts in making tourism initiative a reality.

Recent studies have revealed a very mixed bag in terms of current infastructure, between the fairly affluent Motril, Salobreña and Almuñècar areas, and the less well endowed areas like the Contraviesa, and coastal areas further East from Motril. It has been noted that currently the main income in this region is from farming, but tourism needs to be increased, and not just treated as a second line of income. It was stated that this part of the Costa Tropical is still virtually untouched virgin territory, and therefore needs careful planning to exploit it’s rich landscape.

Proposed projects include the following:-

Motril – Commercial Centre for both commercial and leisure use built on 40 hectares to be built in the Cortijo del Conde area. 100 hectares in Playa Granada to build new hotels with minimum of 400 rooms, sports facilities but no proposed housing.

Albondón, Los Guájares, Lújar, Polopos and Sorvilán – These regions to receive hotels and rural tourism complexes, and become recognised tourist zones.

Albuñol – 20 hectares to be allocated for hotels, homes and other facilities to further boost tourism in this vicinity.

Gualchos, Itrabo & Jete – To have the necessary infrastructure put in place to promote tourism geared towards adventure and lesiure activities.

Salobreña & Molvizar The area of Los Palmares has a plans for a tourist centre, private hospital, bilingual school, residencial home for the elderly and a botanical garden. Plans to build a golf course in this area are still in place.

The long term goal is to achieve sustainable tourism, and think what each region needs to attract tourists and visitors on a global scale.

He has taken this action in protest of the lack of funding provided by the Central Government in Spain for the  smaller villages in the region.

Since the strike began the Councillor has  lost 8 kilos in weight and is now down to 76 kilos.  There is strong support for this action by the local villages of Albunol, Rubite, Salobrena and Balerma to name but a few. On the other hand, some people have commented that this is a pantomime, to which the Councillor reacted angrily.

There has been no official Government response. How long can they wait, or in fact how long can he go on?