ISSUE 655 • 5th -11th October 2018
EST 2005
Going strong
By Jose Artur T H E To u r i s t O ff i c e o f Cuevas del Almanzora has been awarded the coveted Q for Quality Tourism honour for the 10th year in a row. The Institute for Spani s h To u r i s m Q u a l i t y (ICTE) awards the gong. It is an official mark of quality that around 137 other towns have been awarded in Spain. Antonio Fernandez, the mayor of Cuevas del Almanzora, said the town’s tourist office was one of the first to be awarded the honour in Almeria Province in 2008. The Q for Quality To u r i s m i s b a c k e d b y the Spanish government’s Tourism and Autonomous Communities Ministry. It is handed out to local areas’ tourism offices on the basis of five main factors. These are prestige, differentiation,
HOTSPOT: Cuevas del Almanzora draws visitors from far and wide.
reliability, rigorousness and promotion. Local tourism bodies are granted the Q for Q u a l i t y To u r i s m w h e n they fulfil conditions including creating man-
agement systems directed towards customer service and continue to improve their offering. Bodies have to pass strict audits to ensure their services guarantee
quality, safety and professionalism with their tourism offering. Marked improvements in customer service are also required, as is ensuring the best possible
Water result A L M E R I A’ S D i p u t a c i o n h a s announced it will invest more than €1 million into Macael’s water system to guarantee supplies all year round. Diputacion officials have tendered the contract for the
works which comes as part of the province’s Galasa Network 2018 plan to improve water infrastructure. The works are set to see more than 5.6 kilometres of pipes in the El Canfornal area
of the town improved after years of neglect, the Diputacion said. The project is expected to improve water access for 2,800 homes and 250 businesses in Macael.
tourist experience. Tourists are drawn to Cuevas del Almanzora for its historic streets, beaches and archaeological sites. The town is also home to a museum on the poet Alvarez de Sotomayor and the Castle of the Marques de los Velez.
House rule changes SEVERAL houses in irregular legal situations in Cantoria will be eligible for council recognition following changes to local planning rules. Homeowners in irregular properties in El Faz will now be able to apply for temporary legal status under the AFO system following a council vote on its town plan. The Abusos Urbanisticos Alamanzora No (AUAN) group campaigns on behalf of those living in irregular homes. The group said the move was brought about by pressure from themselves and members of the local conservative Partido Popular (PP). Maura Hillen, President of AUAN, said the move would now allow people living in such homes to have legal options to resolve their issues. “We are very pleased with this development. It is the only sensible option for town halls wishing to see their residents obtain paperwork in their lifetimes,” she said. The decision follows an earlier council decision to take the areas of Media Legau and Los Garcias off the town plan. Members of the PP on the council objected claiming those who lived in the El Faz area were entitled to equal treatment.