Elche improves visitor experience with smart tourism and expanded beach bus services

Elche is making it easier than ever for residents and visitors to explore the city this summer, with new technology helping tourists discover its rich heritage while enhanced public transport provides convenient access to the coast. The latest initiatives form part of the city’s ongoing investment in sustainable tourism, accessibility and environmentally friendly travel.

Smart signs help visitors explore historic Elche

Visitors to Elche can now discover more about the city’s history and attractions thanks to a new smart tourist information system installed across the historic centre.

For the first time, the city has introduced 21 information panels at key locations including Glorieta, the Altamira Palace, the Calahorra Tower, Clarisas, the Hermitage of San Sebastian and the MAHE Archaeological and History Museum.

The new signs are designed to help visitors find their way around while providing information about Elche’s main cultural and historic landmarks.

Each panel includes QR codes that visitors can scan with their mobile phone to access additional information in Spanish, Valencian, English and French. The system also includes videos, audio guides and links to cultural walking routes through platforms such as Wikiloc. More languages, including German and Polish, could be added in the future.

The signs also feature Navilens technology, making them easier to use for people with visual impairments and improving accessibility for all visitors.

City officials say the project is aimed at improving the visitor experience while helping people learn more about Elche’s rich cultural heritage. The information has been prepared with input from the city’s archaeology, archives and heritage departments to ensure it is accurate and informative.

The project represents an investment of €180,000 and has been funded through the European Union’s Next Generation programme as part of Elche’s Sustainable Tourism Plan. It follows other recent improvements, including upgrades to the Misteri Museum and Hort del Gat, new shade structures, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.

Summer beach buses return to Elche

Getting to Elche’s beaches is a little easier this summer thanks to the return of the town’s seasonal beach bus services.

Elche Town Hall has once again introduced its three special summer routes, P1, P2 and P3, to help residents and visitors travel to the coast during July and August.

The P1 service runs a circular route around Arenales del Sol from 8:20 AM to 9:30 PM, with buses every 22 minutes.

The P2 route provides a direct link between El Altet and Arenales del Sol, operating from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, while the P3 service connects La Marina and El Pinet with the beaches, with departures every 45 minutes. New minibuses have been introduced this year on both the P2 and P3 routes.

The announcement comes as Elche’s bus network continues to attract more passengers. During June, services to the town’s surrounding districts carried 172,495 passengers, the highest monthly figure ever recorded.

That represents an increase of almost 40 per cent compared with June last year, with nearly 50,000 additional journeys made.

Town Hall officials say the growing number of passengers shows that more people are choosing public transport as an easier way to travel around the municipality, particularly during the summer months.