Orihuela embraces Smart Tourism while scooter rollout faces questions

Orihuela is making it easier than ever for visitors to explore its rich history and culture, thanks to a series of new accessibility projects designed to remove barriers and improve the tourist experience.

One of the biggest additions is the installation of NaviLens technology at 50 tourist sites across Orihuela and Orihuela Costa. Using a smartphone, visitors can scan special codes to access information about monuments, museums and historic landmarks.

Unlike traditional QR codes, NaviLens can be detected from up to 15 metres away and without needing to point a camera directly at the code. The system is particularly useful for visually impaired visitors and can provide information in up to 36 languages, automatically adapting to the language settings on a user’s device.

The free NaviLens and NaviLens GO apps also offer multimedia content, simplified text and a range of accessibility features designed to make cultural information available to as many people as possible.

Alongside the digital improvements, Orihuela has installed 16 new information totems at some of its most important heritage sites, including the Cathedral, the Miguel Hernández House Museum, the Episcopal Palace, Teatro Circo and the famous San Isidro murals.

Each totem includes tactile relief elements that allow visually impaired visitors to explore architectural details through touch, creating a more inclusive way of discovering the city’s history and architectural heritage.

The projects form part of wider efforts to modernise Orihuela’s tourism offering while preserving and promoting the area’s cultural attractions for future generations.

Scooter Rollout Hits Turbulence

While Orihuela is receiving praise for improving accessibility, another recent initiative has faced a far more challenging start.

Electric scooter rentals have finally arrived in Orihuela Costa under the town hall’s new single-operator system, but the launch is already surrounded by controversy.

The service was originally expected to begin in December, with the full fleet deployed by January. However, the scooters only started appearing recently, around five months behind schedule.

According to the concession contract, delays of this type could qualify as a very serious breach, potentially leading to penalties or even cancellation of the agreement.

One of the main concerns involves the scooters themselves. Industry sources claim some of the vehicles currently operating in Orihuela Costa carry certification plates linked to international operator Bolt rather than Vamoz. Bolt, which also participated in the original tender process, is reportedly considering legal action.

There are also questions over whether the deployed fleet matches the specifications originally presented during the bidding process, including requirements relating to vehicle age and model type.

Municipal sources have attributed part of the delay to recent changes in DGT regulations concerning insurance and civil liability requirements for electric scooters.

Despite the controversy, the service was introduced to improve mobility in Orihuela Costa, where residents and tourists often rely on alternative forms of transport because of dispersed urbanisations and limited public transport connections.

How the situation develops in the coming weeks could prove significant, both for the operator and for local residents who have long called for better transport options across the coastal area.