The ongoing transfer of influence from Ciudadanos to the Partido Popular in Alicante has continued in the recent months, and the trend appears to persist even as the election campaign intensifies. This was evident during a recent tourism-focused event in Alicante, attended by the PP mayor and re-election candidate for the city, Luis Barcala, along with two Ciudadanos advisers, Miguel Ángel Sánchez and Pablo Rodríguez. Sánchez and Rodríguez work for Mari Carmen Sánchez, the deputy mayor and city spokesperson, who nonetheless retains full authority over tourism in the city hall.
The gathering, held at the PynchonCo bookstore, served to unveil the party’s tourism agenda for the coming period and to solicit input for upcoming initiatives. Although framed within the pre-election activity of the People’s Party, both Ciudadanos advisers were present at the event, underscoring a broader convergence in positions around the sector.
Miguel Ángel Sánchez serves as chief of staff to Mari Carmen Sánchez and was previously the coordinator of liberal forces in Alicante, a role he left amid internal party tensions at the national and provincial levels. Pablo Rodríguez, among other duties, contributes social media management on behalf of the deputy mayor.
This development follows the disclosure of internal tensions within the municipal government after a somewhat unusual incident this week. Earlier, a meeting occurred between local government representatives and tourism industry stakeholders to discuss plans for work on the Mártires de la Libertad project, a road adjacent to the Esplanade. Adrián Santos Pérez, the Ciudadanos City Planning Councilor, was not invited to participate, a detail that suggested the calendar for the action had been shaped by PP partners, triggering criticism from hoteliers and other sector insiders.
Integration
Concerning the content of the Wednesday meeting, Barcala announced that representatives from trade and cruise tourism would join the Alicante City & Beach Tourism Board’s Board of Directors to act as partners in the city’s tourism decisions, addressing a key demand from the sector.
Barcala highlighted the board’s financial trajectory, noting that its budget rose from 2.24 million in 2018 to 7.78 million in 2023, underscoring the emphasis placed on Alicante and the role of the investment in transforming the city into a sustainable, digital, and accessible destination for the 21st century. He emphasized the importance of public-private cooperation, which drives the development of 122 tourism projects, and cited a tripartite funding increase from 245 thousand euros to 4.3 million euros over recent periods as evidence of growing support.
Looking ahead, Barcala pointed to forthcoming challenges and opportunities, among which the construction of a new Convention Center stands out. He described the project as capable of delivering not only a skyline landmark but also a qualitative and quantitative leap for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism. Projections include establishing a new Congressional Bureau structure to attract major conventions and to better prepare the city for these large-scale events.
Additionally, Barcala announced plans to inaugurate a space named “Alicante Loves Music” to host major concerts and festivals, aligning with the broader strategy to amplify the city’s cultural and tourism appeal.
A blocked demand that has emerged into the light
The push to include trade and cruise sector representatives on the Alicante City & Beach Tourism Board’s Executive Board has been a point of contention, with opposition forces also urging action. Barcala, however, signaled support for the inclusion during the middle of the electoral campaign, as communicated at the recent event.