As soon as one gets lost on a walk through the sandy beaches of Saladar and El Altet, they will change municipalities without realizing it. Alicante and Elx, the second and third most populated cities in the Valencian Community, are closer than many think, so much so that their limits are confused.
It is true that their historic centers are about twenty kilometers apart, but the reason why both towns have lived with each other's backs to each other during their long history is not geographical. This detachment, if not confrontation, has more to do with the fact that, since the preeminence that the capital exercises in others does not exist in the province, identity pride has always prevailed over the common interest.
From civil society, both in the business and academic fields, various proposals have been raised in the democratic period along the lines of creating a unifying axis, a kind of metropolitan area capable of increasing economic and social power and attractiveness. of the whole, integrating the satellite populations of both. But between the mutual misgivings and the lack of conviction with which the public administration has approached the matter until now, the Alicante-Elx axis remains in the immaterial limbo of ideas.
Has the time come for that to change? At the end of last September, a summit was held in Alicante that both mayors, Luis Barcala (Alicante) and Pablo Ruz (Elx), described as "historic." Half a dozen councilors from each council participated and some topics to be developed were put on the table. Nearly four months have passed and, while waiting for Barcala to return the protocol visit, some steps have been taken. And some of them show that this process is, to a large extent, inspired from Valencia, from the Palau de la Generalitat.
Sources close to President Mazón recall that, during his time as president of the Provincial Council - in which Elx was governed by a PSPV mayor, Carlos González - the provincial institution put important investments on the table for the city, such as the planned Palacio de Congress or what will be the first sub-headquarters of the Provincial Council outside the capital, and promoted a study to implement the Tram in the city. And they believe that the electoral result of the last municipal elections, in which the PP - in alliance with Vox, of course - recovered the Mayor's Office, is not alien to these movements.
These sources confirm that the good harmony between mayors Barcala and Ruz and their purpose for cooperation is encouraged by the Generalitat Valenciana which, among other things, never fails to include the mayor of Elche in the events attended by those from Valencia, Alicante and Castellón, the three provincial capitals.
It is clear that all this is easier when the same party governs both the Community and the municipalities, but those around Mazón remember that this circumstance has occurred before, both with PP governments - in the times of Sonia Castedo and Mercedes Alonso - as from the PSPV, with Carlos González and Gabriel Echávarri; and the Elx-Alicante rapprochement did not go beyond the realm of friendly declarations.
They also remember that in just a few months there have been some movements that are unprecedented, such as the appointment of the mayor of Elche, Pablo Ruz, as advisor to the Port Authority of Alicante, one of the first decisions of the new president of the Port, Luis Rodríguez, appointed by Mazón, who is joined by an excellent relationship forged in his long period at the head of the Alicante Metal employers' association.
Faced with possible reluctance because the first councilor from Elche has a vote on the council of a port located in the city of Alicante, the Valencian government argues that Ruz's presence can benefit contact between the powerful business fabric of his municipality and some docks that would greatly benefit from attracting merchandise traffic that today chooses other import and export routes.
Another avenue of collaboration open between both cities refers to tourism and holding events. At the Fitur 2024 fair that was just held in Madrid, the first marathon between both cities was presented, as well as the joint organization of an important corporate tourism congress, the MICE
The mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, believes that “it represents a historical fact that shows that when there is will, great things can be achieved that benefit both Alicante and Elche and also the province as a whole.” “This change in strategy that we have undertaken is beginning to bear fruit and along these lines we will continue working to promote a population axis that is the second most important in the Valencian Community,” he added.
The mayor of Elx, Pablo Ruz, adds that "both municipalities believe in the real possibility of complementing efforts, resources and means to promote and market tourism products to deseasonalize tourism demand in which each one contributes a value that complements the other." . And he assures that “together we are stronger, we are capable of complementing each other to attract more visitors and create new opportunities.”
Their respective teams agree that, since the "summit" of both municipal governments took place in September, there have been various coordination meetings between the areas of Tourism and Sports to carry out common actions, and that those announced "will not be "the only ones and they will not be reduced to the field of tourism. In other fields such as transportation, logistics and industrial land, among others, synergies that benefit both populations will also be promoted."
Regarding the marathon, they remember that 28 events are held throughout the national territory over the distance of 42 kilometers, but until now none have been carried out in the province of Alicante. The test will debut in February 2025, the Provincial Council of Alicante will collaborate in it, and the organization will be the responsibility of the Montemar Athletic Club, especially José Manuel Albentosa, former Olympic athlete, who, among other achievements, holds the record of victories of the Elx half marathon, which is the oldest in the world.
It is expected that the respective Tourism Departments will be in charge of creating tourist packages and designing promotional actions for the event to ensure that the event generates the maximum possible impact on the two cities.
Regarding the MICE event
The MICE
