The need to re-think

The economic crisis has hit the Vega Baja hard because between 40 and 60% of the work in the area is related to construction.

In the past construction brought an enormous amount of money to the area and kept unemployment low but those days are gone.

The Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at the Miguel Hernandez University has conducted a study into the socio-economic makeup of the region. As a result, the study proposes several possible solutions to the problem.

Firstly they suggest a strategic plan for a re-definition of the tourist model. The region needs to consider what type of tourist it wants to attract and what infrastructures are needed to sustain this type of development.

The report is very damming of the area. Beyond the beach, the report says there is very little. There are neither five star hotels nor five star restaurants. There are very few cultural, artistic or other major events that would attract tourists.

Although the Vega Baja occupies 4.1% of the land of the Valencian Community, it only has 2.2% of the natural parks, 3.1% of places of interest and 1.3% of the bird sanctuaries. All of which is difficult to understand when you consider the location of the area in the Segura river basin and its extensive coastline.

Furthermore the study goes on to point out that the Vega Baja has no technology park and therefore very few technology companies based in the area.

Even in commerce, the Vega Baja is poorly catered for. There are small developments in Torrevieja and Orihuela but for important purchases and a wider choice most people would have to travel to Murcia or Alicante.

The Northern Europeans retiring, buying a house, playing golf and lying in the sun model has run its course. The area needs to consider a different model to attract people into the Vega Baja.

As much as we love Bigastro and the people here, we wouldn't consider it a place for tourism. Where are the attractions to lure visitors to the town? In our opinion, the proposed aparthotel with its golf practice ranges would have been a white elephant; as empty as the houses and flats that are currently under construction.

Of course all the scandals involving implied corruption and deceit are currently detracting people's minds from the pressing problems that the Vega Baja faces.