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The Region of Murcia has an extremely strong tourist sector – 2023 brought a record number of visitors and the King and Queen of Spain themselves are said to be very interested in the Region’s stand at the massive Tourism Fair in Madrid this week.

 

But one of the things that both the regional government and the different towns and cities around Murcia want to promote is the so-called ‘deseasonalisation’ of the tourist industry, that is, to have people coming all year round and not just in the summer season. For Murcia, this shouldn’t be a problem as the Region has pleasant average temperatures all year round, even if it does tend to get very hot in the summer.

 

For La Manga del Mar Menor, however, this presents a problem. Local business owners in La Manga and Cabo de Palos have been saying for years that the issue of traffic on the La Manga road needs to be sorted out.

 

In the busy summer months of July and August, this road can get clogged up with cars trying to enter or leave the thin strip, with its bars, restaurants and popular beaches.

 

The City Council in Cartagena, under whose jurisdiction most of La Manga falls, has already taken steps to try to introduce more free parking to improve the traffic situation, but more measures are undoubtedly needed.

 

Pepe Espinosa, president of the businesspeople’s association of La Manga and Cabo de Palos, told local media that “real plans” are needed to achieve deseasonalisation.

 

“We would have to talk about water sports throughout the year [and] take up the project of the footbridge between La Manga and the beach of La Llana,” he said.

 

On February 5, Espinosa will meet with representatives of the regional government to discuss these and other issues relating to tourism in the area.

 

“All in all,” he concluded, “we must take advantage of the fact that the temperature is pleasant all year round to promote aspects such as those mentioned above, such as nautical sports.”

 

 

Image: CARM