Unidos por la Costa has long been urging the Orihuela City Council to establish designated camping sites for mobile homes and caravans, highlighting the growing presence of itinerant tourists in the coastal area and the urgent need for proper infrastructure. The group argues that the current lack of regulated camping areas is leading to the inappropriate use of public and private spaces, particularly during peak tourist seasons.
Well, it now seems as though they have support from Ciudadanos who have submitted a motion to the next municipal plenary session urging the governing coalition of the Popular Party (PP) and Vox to fulfil long-standing promises and develop designated parking and overnight areas for motorhomes across the whole municipality.
The initiative, they say, is aimed at promoting itinerant tourism, calls for immediate action on plans announced as far back as 2020, which have yet to be realized.
José Aix, spokesperson for Ciudadanos, highlighted the broken commitments made by PP officials. In October 2020, then-Environment Councillor Dámaso Aparicio announced a motorhome parking project in Soto I6 near the Segura River. A second initiative was presented in February 2022 near the Palmeral de San Antón. Neither has been implemented. Aix criticised the current coalition government for failing to prioritize this tourism infrastructure despite it being included in the PP’s 2023 local election platform.
Ciudadanos underscores the growing need for such facilities, noting rising demand not only in the city centre and surrounding districts but particularly on the Orihuela coast. In January 2024, Unidos por la Costa reiterated requests for a dedicated space for motorhomes, citing the continued use of the La Zenia Boulevard shopping centre car park as an informal stopover due to the lack of alternatives.
In response, Ciudadanos is proposing two key actions:
Immediate launch of administrative procedures to determine locations, required services (such as electricity, water, and waste disposal), and any necessary regulatory adjustments.
Allocation of specific funding in the 2026 municipal budget to ensure the projects are finally implemented.
The party argues that creating these motorhome areas is essential for supporting sustainable, high-quality tourism and attracting a visitor profile interested in cultural, natural, and local experiences. They believe such infrastructure would benefit local businesses and enhance Orihuela’s tourism competitiveness. Ciudadanos concludes that Orihuela must not fall behind in the growing national trend of motorhome tourism. They maintain that the necessary infrastructure is both viable
