ARCHIVED - Murcia tourism sector fears the effects of the deterioration in the Mar Menor

Visitors are expected to seek alternative destinations in south-west Murcia, other parts of Spain and in Tunisia and Turkey

Hostemur demands more promotional activity from the Murcia government

As the extent of the deterioration in the marine environment in the Mar Menor becomes ever more apparent following the gota fría storm of September, when severe flooding acted as a catalyst on the harmful substances which have accumulated in the lagoon over the last 30 years, Hostemur, the federation which represents restaurants, hotels and other businesses in the regional tourism sector, has expressed its “fears” regarding the repercussions of the environmental disaster.

On Tuesday Hostemur president Jesús Jiménez met Cristina Sánchez, the minister for Tourism in the Murcia government, and requested that the measures to regenerate the Mar Menor be accompanied by an extensive promotional campaign to attract visitors to the area in 2020 and in following years, particularly over the Easter holidays and in the summer. At present it is not possible to evaluate the effect of the environmental disaster on tourism as bookings are not usually made so far in advance of the following summer, but it seems inevitable that the sector will suffer and Sr Jiménez spoke openly of the fears harboured by many of the federation’s members. Many reservations have already been cancelled for the winter or “off” season, he reports.

On the positive side the public health service’s water sample analyses confirm that the Mar Menor is still suitable for bathing, but in realistic terms a dip in the lagoon is a far from appetizing prospect at present due not only to the onset of colder weather but also to the obvious deterioration in water quality. In this context Sra Sánchez recognized the importance of “minimizing” the negative effects as much as possible, and advocates the promotion of a wide range of attractions such as the historic city of Cartagena, the gastronomy of the Region of Murcia and of course the continuing popularity of the Mediterranean coastline of Murcia, especially in Águilas and Mazarrón.

Meanwhile, the equivalent of Hostemur in the municipality of Cartagena, Hostecar, fears that visitors who habitually come to the Costa Cálida for their holidays will be opting for other destinations next year, both in Spain (such as Almería, Alicante and the Canaries) and abroad, such as Turkey and Tunisia. Those in the tourism sector in the Mar Menor may be entitled to feel neglected by the authorities in the light of the closure of Murcia-San Javier airport to make way for the new airport in Corvera, but on the other hand this along with the current problems in the Mar Menor may provide a chance for significant growth in Mazarrón and Águilas. At the same time, in Cartagena there are also jewels in the crown in the Mediterranean, including two marine reserves and the regional park of Calblanque, and the organization echoes Hostemur in calling for promotional support from the regional government.

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