British boost for Benissa

Married couples from the UK increase local tourism figures for July

Older married couples from England gave the highest statistics for the number of visitors to Benissa during July.

OLDER married couples from England gave the highest statistics for the number of visitors to Benissa during July.

The tourist office also announced an increase in guest occupation rates, with official rental accommodation at 73.23% capacity, compared to the expected 60.71%.

Hotel accommodation figures remained low at 60.71%, but were also higher than the estimated 45%.

The information, compiled by Benissa tourist office, said that the nationality of visitors staying in accommodation in the town during the month of July was, in order of popularity, older British couples, British couples with or without children, Dutch, Belgian, French and German, and to a lesser extent Russian, Polish, Scandinavian and Austrian.

Those of Spanish nationality were couples with or without children and older married couples from the Valencia region, followed by visitors from Madrid, Murcia and Andalusia equally, and to a lesser extent, Catalan.

According to the same report, the forecast of occupancy for the month of August is 83,85% occupancy for rental accommodation and 65.43% for hotels.

The tourist offices in Benissa and at La Fustera attended to 1,076 visitors during July (759 at the beach office and 317 in Benissa town), and 2,021 consultations were conducted through other means, including email and telephone calls.

In order, the most frequent queries were local information about the town, the Marina Alta, hiking, the historic centre of Benissa and its museums, eco-tours and coves of Benissa, festive and cultural activities, and the public transport network including the free bus.

From the enquiries at the tourist office, 58.6% were hikers and walkers (who were staying in another town and came to spend a day in Benissa) and the remaining 41.4% were people who stayed in the town, mainly in rental accommodation or their holiday residence.

Whilst the occupation rates remain high, the tourist office at La Fustera will remain open seven days a week until 31 October, with Sunday closing at 13.30.