First Professional Wine Tasting Event In Murcia

The first ever professional wine tasting event in the Murcia Region took place on the 13th and 14th of April. The event was organised by the Department of Agriculture and the Consumer and Tourist Offices, and was held at the Tourist Centre in Murcia.

The wine tasting was attended by journalists and wine enthusiasts from all over Spain. Wine tasting experts sampled more than 50 different types of wine, from Jumilla, Yecla and Bullas, including wines made from many different grape types.

The popularity of the Regions wines has grown tremendously in recent years. It is hoped, by the organisers of the event, that annual wine tasting events of this kind will further boost their popularity.

The Costa Calida Requests 42 Blue Flags

Town Halls along the Costa Calida have requested a total of 42 blue flags to be placed along their various beaches. The blue flags indicate that the waters are environmentally safe for swimming and that the beaches are well maintained.

The more blue flags a town hall receives, the more money they receive from both the government and tourist authorities. Town Halls that have requested blue flags include: San Pedro del Pinatar, Los Alcázares, San Javier, Cartagena, Mazarrón and Águilas. They are now awaiting the decision of the environmental department.

New Cartagena Hospital Progresing Well

Construction of the new Cartagena hospital, at Santa Lucia, is progressing well, according to Ramón Luis Valcárcel, President of the Murcia region. The basic building work should be finished next year, allowing the subsequent fitting out of the hospital and its commissioning in early 2009.

The hospital will exceed 100,000 square metres in size, have over 600 beds and cost approximately 130 million Euros. The hospital will be of the highest standard, including the latest computer and communications technology, and will be as friendly as possible for people with disabilities.

A special surgical block will include all the very latest services and facilities, including plastic surgery. There will also be: a central laboratory service; an emergency department; a central imaging service, to help with diagnostics and treatment; and facilities for follow-up consultations and primary health care. It will also include aerodynamics, radiotherapy and a unit caring for dementia sufferers.

The regional government is giving health services a high priority at a time when the population and economy of the region are expanding significantly.

12% Increase in Restaurants in the Region of Murcia

The number of restaurants in the Region of Murcia increased by almost 12% in 2006, a staggering 198 new establishments opening their doors to the public for the first time. This exceptional growth appears to be directly related to the increased level of commercial activity and tourism that has taken place in the Region in recent years.

The growth has affected the entire region, including the Spanish cities of Murcia and Cartagena, and all the major tourist resorts on the Regions Costa Calida coast – the Mar Menor, La Manga, Mazarron and Aguilas. The primary driving force behind these increases has been the recent opening of new commercial centres.

The most notable increases can be seen at the quality end of the market, where the number of restaurants with the prestigious “4 forks” certificate grew from just one, in Murcia city, to six, in Murcia city, Los Alcazares, Torre Pacheco, and Fuente Alamo. José Marcos, President of the Restaurants Association, of the Region of Murcia, says that this is a direct result of the exclusive Golf Resorts that have recently opened in the Region.