The rise in hotel occupancy in Benidorm during the second half of February, which accounted for 42% of arrivals and was three points higher than in the first part of the month, was once again mostly due to British tourists. The Costa Blanca’s tourist capital, Hosbec, finished this time with hotels at 76.8%, higher than the monthly average of 75.5%, according to data.

With these numbers, the Brits have surpassed the national tourists, whose share of visitors decreased from 43.8% to 40.2% in the second half of the month. Similarly, the Dutch accounted for 5.2% of all visits, with Belgians coming in second at 5% and Irish at 2.2%.

With 76% of reservations confirmed for the first half of the month, one point more than during the same period in 2024, the March predictions support the upward trend. Hoteliers are able to keep positive expectations for the season because of this steadiness.

Due to the celebration of CEVISAMA and the rise in economic activity in the ceramics industry, Castellón had the highest average hotel occupancy rate in the Valencian Community, at about 85%. The employers’ group claims that “tourism and professional events combined to favour these positive results.”

While reservations for the first half of March were comparable to last year, Valencia saw a decline in occupancy, particularly in 4-star hotels. With 74.2% occupancy in the second half of February and a monthly balance of 72.8%, the Costa Blanca—aside from Benidorm—also had a minor decline, falling 3.3 points short of 2024.

The residents of Elche are now over 4.2 million euros richer after yesterday’s, Saturday March 8th, National Lottery draw. The Lottery Administration number 2 in the city of Elche, which is situated in the Plaça de Baix, has received the whole first prize of the draw, which was ticket number 73,267. They had ten series consigned, or one hundred tenths. Everything points to the sale of about 70 tenths, which are valued at 60,000 euros each, pending the final numbers.

As it happens, the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish sold the majority of the tickets—roughly 60.

A 24-year-old man was arrested by the National Police for the stabbing incident that occurred in the North Zone of Alicant. Like the victim, the detainee was of Moroccan descent. He admitted to carrying out the stabbing and informed the agents that “the neighbourhood needs to be cleaned up.”

Yesterday at 7:30 p.m., the incident took place on calle Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the district of Virgen del Remedio. A 39-year-old guy who had been stabbed phoned an on-duty National Police patrol. The officers asked for the presence of medical assistance when he showed them the stab wound on his abdomen.

Following an explanation of what had transpired, a second patrol also arrived at the area and began searching for the individual who had stabbed him. According to what the victim told the police, he had been fighting with someone when he reached for a knife and stabbed him in the abdomen.

The police started searching when the victim gave them information, such as the fact that the assailant had a unique tattoo on his neck. Within an hour, they found the suspect in a fast-food restaurant in the same neighbourhood.

In order to defend what had happened, the suspect admitted to carrying out the attack and told the police that “the neighbourhood needs to be cleaned up.” The officers then went ahead and arrested the guy.

With a six-centimeter abdominal wound, the injured guy was sent to Alicante General Hospital and had surgery in the emergency room.

Before appearing in court, the detainee—who already had a criminal record and had acted aggressively towards the officers—was brought to the National Police headquarters for additional investigation.