Happy Holidays! ?
Today is Día de los Reyes—Spain’s traditional day for opening presents. It’s also a national holiday, so keep in mind that most stores will be closed. Let’s dive into this week’s news roundup:
25 Years of Transformation
Valencia has undergone incredible changes over the past 25 years!
A fascinating visual story from Las Provincias highlights how the city’s population has grown by 11% since 2000. Even more remarkable is the surge in international residents: they now make up nearly 18% of Valencia’s population, compared to just 2% in 2000.
?? Read the full story here.
Flood Recovery Updates
Efforts to recover from last year’s devastating floods continue:
- Car Removal: Over 30,000 cars destroyed in the floods have been cleared from junkyards, but 100,000 remain, according to Las Provincias.
- Dam Repairs: Nearly half of Valencia’s flood management dams have been severely damaged and need urgent repairs. Read the report here.
- Preserving Memories: Volunteers are working at Feria Valencia to rescue flood-soaked documents and photographs, more on the project at Las Provincias.
- Meanwhile, El País reports that over 20 underground parking garages remain inaccessible due to mud and debris. ?? Read more here.
Urban Planning Under Review
The floods have sparked discussions on urban development in the Valencia region:
- The Turia River diversion influenced floodwaters in unexpected ways. Levante has this discussion of how the Plan Sur saved Valencia but condemned L’Horta Sud.
- Could delayed projects have prevented flooding in the Poyo ravine area? Levante looks at what could have been done.
Valencia is Growing
Big news: Valencia is now Spain’s third-largest city, surpassing Seville with a population of over 800,000. ?? Details here.
On the tourism front:
- Valencia welcomed a record-breaking 11.2 million international tourists last year from A Punt.
- Spain overall saw 88 million visitors, contributing €120 billion to the economy, according to Valencia Plaza.
Upbeat Economic Outlook
The Valencian economy is also on the rise:
- Unemployment in the region has dropped to its lowest in 17 years, reports Valencia Plaza.
- Economists are predicting 3.1% GDP growth for Spain in 2025, says a new study by the financial newspaper.
Ending on a Sweet Note
Utiel has set a new record by baking a 56-meter-long Roscón de Reyes! Check out the photos of this incredible dessert in Valencia Plaza. ?? See the record-breaking Roscón.
Enjoy the holiday, and we’ll be back with more updates soon. ¡Felices Reyes!