Riot police are being sent to Benidorm as part of a security operation for the upcoming World Cup, which is expected to attract a large influx of British tourists. The Costa Blanca resort's town council has announced reinforcements for evening and night-time shifts from June 11 to July 19, the tournament's start and end dates.
The National Police's Alicante UIP unit, a mobile force specialising in public order, will be deployed. A spokesman for Benidorm Town Council confirmed that local and national police will work jointly to reinforce surveillance units, with the operation adapted according to the tournament's progress.
Air capacity to Alicante has increased by 16.4% during the first phase of the World Cup, particularly from the United Kingdom. Many England fans have opted to watch the games in Spain due to high accommodation and ticket prices in the US, which is one of the host nations.
Flight comparison website Kiwi.com reported a spike in bookings to Alicante of over 300% for next summer. TUI was advertising a five-night trip to Benidorm from Bristol on June 14 for £449, less than a Category 1 ticket for England's opener in Dallas.
Benidorm's Councillor for Citizen Security, Jesus Carrobles, stated that sporting competitions generate great interest and bring together large numbers of fans, and that an information campaign will be carried out alongside the security measures.
