| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 01/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 24 |
| Copyright: Other |
Valencia sets sights on short-break business
UKbusiness to the Costa Blanca is booming. Moe Kafer visited Benidorm and Valencia to see what the region offers
THE VALENCIA Regional Tourist Board is preparing to make its debut in the UK city-break market helped by a new tourist attraction.Called the City of Arts and Sciences, the new attraction is expected to draw 2m visitors a year. VRTB promotions executive Jose Ferri said: “We are emerging in the short-break market and the UK visitors are very important to us.”
Operators, including Cresta, Mundi Color, Cadogan and Travelscene are featuring Valencia as a short-break destination and will include the City of Arts and Sciences in the package.
The attraction incorporates four structures; the Science Museum, due to open at the end of this month; L’Oceanografic, containing sea habitats including tropical oceans and icy Antarctic waters, set to open in the autumn and the Arts Palace, due to open next year. This will include a 1,800-seat theatre and an open-air auditorium.
The fourth building, L’Hemisferic, opened in 1998 and includes an IMAX theatre, planetarium and laserdrome.
The tourist board is hoping that as Valencia is only 2hrs from Benidorm, the resort visitors will add a two or three-day stay in the city.
L’Hemisferic: the new buildings will complement the site