over the suggestion of Benidorm as a new World Heritage Site.

Professor Philippe Duhamel, Geography expert at the University of Angers, France, suggests that Benidorm has a legitimate claim to World Heritage Site status under the UNESCO "cultural landscape" rubric as a pioneering example of the Mediterranean "package tour" resort,  providing a unique global template for other developments. 

Professor Duhamel claims that Benidorm should not be compared with the Taj Mahal or Stonehenge but with industrial world heritage sites like the Ironbridge Gorge, Telford, Shropshire or Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, South Wales amongst others.  Tourism is now the world's most dynamic and important industry, whether viewed in terms of employment, cultural change or environmental impact, and the beach holiday is a particularly significant component of tourism's growth and as such, outstanding holiday destinations, like Benidorm, deserve to be taken seriously.

The resort of Benidorm was very carefully planned. Its "Plan General de Ordenación Urbana" for town planning was approved and underway by 1956, two years before Spain made it obligatory to have town planning.  Its wide avenues and tall skyscrapers were permitted but with height in relation to the size of the area on which they were built to leave open ground around them for gardens, etc.  so that they only appear to look close together when viewed from the sea.  This forward-thinking concept allowed more hotels to be built close to the beaches with guestrooms designed to enjoy seaviews and with all balconies enjoying maximum sunlight.

Over recent years, there has been an extensive programme of carefully planned  re-development and investment in the infrastructure of the resort including:

• The recent opening of the five star Barceló Asia Gardens Resort & Spa overlooking Benidorm
• Renovation & refurbishment of 90% of the resort’s hotels
• Two superb Jack Niklaus-designed PGA golf courses
• Four world class theme parks
• New walkways, cycle paths, bus terminus and improved transport links
• A unique new waterfront walkway opens on Poniente Beach June 2009

·         A new Cultural Centre will open in 2009.  Covering 43,000 sqm, it includes 2 conference halls, exhibition areas, music & dance academies, archaeological museum, international library, educational & leisure activities and restaurants

Benidorm continues to evolve and reinvent itself around the changing demands of its visitors.  The original appeal of a British ‘home away from home’ still stands, but this is also a resort proud of its Spanish roots where visitors can enjoy fine international cuisine, designer shopping, luxury spas and five star hotels and world-class golf.

The enduring appeal of Benidorm attracts 5 million visitors a year, more than 1.5 million Brits and remains the No.1 Spanish destination for British holidaymakers.  The fact that 7 out of 10 guests return is testament to its success.