The fourth Municipality Forum organized by INFORMACIÓN examined the needs and challenges facing different municipalities, with a focus on Alicante province. Local infrastructure, innovation, digitalization, sustainability, public-private partnerships, tourism, water management, and finance emerged as the topics most discussed by mayors and provincial representatives. This event has become a key annual gathering for towns of all sizes, offering a space to share ideas that improve municipal management, planning, and the handling of new opportunities and challenges.
The forum took place in the INFORMACIÓN Club hall and on the Info TV set, spanning a single day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The program opened with remarks from the Mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, followed by statements from À Punt’s director Alfred Costa, Toni Cabot, director of INFORMACIÓN, Rocío Cortés, president of the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, and Carlos Mazón, president of the Generalitat Valenciana. Mazón emphasized a need to rethink the health map to ensure equal access to care in the most remote areas of the Valencian Community. He noted ongoing efforts to implement measures that permanently improve health services across all regions under the same conditions.
The discussion tables convened at the INFORMACIÓN Club, where Pilar Cortés served as a moderator for the debates. The central portion of the event focused on dialogue at three tables. The first addressed the challenges faced by Vega Baja, with mayoral participation from Eduardo Dolón of Torrevieja and Pepe Vegara of Orihuela. They highlighted infrastructure as a priority and, despite differences in historical development and urban renewal potential, agreed on promoting the shared advancement of Vega Baja, the fifth most populous area in the Valencian Community.
The second panel, led by INFORMACIÓN journalist Miguel Vilaplana, examined the industrial municipalities of Elda and Alcoy. Rubén Alfaro of Elda and Toni Francés of Alcoy stressed that their towns are exemplars of industrial evolution, continually adapting to changes. Alcoy, long associated with the textile and metal sectors, has diversified into emerging areas such as technology, cosmetics, and agri-food. Elda has solidified its role as a global powerhouse in footwear, maintaining resilience through global expansion and talent development even amid recent disruptions. These efforts reflect a strategic shift toward internationalization and skilled workforce training as drivers of ongoing relevance in the global economy.
Digitalization featured prominently throughout the day, with contributions from Fermín Crespo, director general of the Society for Digital Transformation Projects, and Manuel Palomar, director of the Alicante Digital Center. Their insights underscored the importance of digital modernization as a backbone for efficient governance and better public services.
The forum also welcomed interventions from public accountability figures and industry representatives, highlighting the essential role of public-private cooperation in local development. Participants from organizations such as Hozono Global, PreZero, Hidraqua, and the Port of Alicante contributed to the discourse on collaboration between government, businesses, and community groups.
Three roundtable discussions on Local Agriculture were held on the TV Bilgi set, featuring mayors from Mutxamel, Almoradí, Aspe, and Pinoso; a Local Industry session with San Vicente del Raspeig, Crevillent, Novelda, and Xixona; and a Tourism table with El Campello, Altea, and Sant Joan d’Alacant. Each table explored how local sectors can cooperate to reinforce regional competitiveness, emphasizing shared strategies in sustainability, connectivity, and coordinated planning.
Tourism and cooperation
Monday afternoon featured essential conversations about the future of Alicante and its municipalities, focusing on tourism and cross-city collaboration. The first dialogue at the Tourism table highlighted the importance of synergy among destinations like Benidorm, L’Alfàs del Pi, and La Vila Joiosa to boost competitiveness. Moderated by María Pomares, editor-in-chief of INFORMACIÓN, participants stressed that collaboration across tourist routes benefits the wider region and strengthens sustainability and mobility links.
A second discussion group centered on the Alicante-Elche axis, with the mayors of Alicante and Elche: Luis Barcala and Pablo Ruz. Moderated by Toni Cabot, the session revealed a renewed dynamic between the two cities. Barcala argued that Alicante could not perform as a capital city without Elche, while Ruz described the previous distance as unproductive. Both leaders affirmed a commitment to strengthening the Alicante-Elche corridor through coordinated urban planning, mobility improvements, tourism development, culture, economy, and sports initiatives.
The concluding moments of the forum featured Nuria Montes, Minister of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, and Toni Pérez, President of the Provincial Council of Alicante. Their remarks highlighted ongoing municipal support efforts, advocating for increased funding and targeted measures in water resources and tourism. The discussion also noted steps like reforming the Cooperation Fund to better assist smaller municipalities and cheering the abolition of a tourism tax as a political milestone from the past year.
This gathering continues to stand as a premier annual venue for reflection and concerted action, outlining a strategic path for the comprehensive development of the province and its towns. It reinforces the idea that regional collaboration can unlock sustainable growth while addressing shared concerns across urban and rural communities.