Xàbia has secured a significant investment of 1.875 million euros from the European Union, through the FEDER 2021-2027 funds call managed by the Ministry for Digital Transformation. This aid, the first of its kind for the municipality, will be used to drive Xàbia's modernization and digitalization, enhancing its management capabilities and preparing it for future challenges.
The town is one of only five municipalities in the Valencian Community selected for this call, alongside Valencia, Benidorm, Alcoi, and La Nucia. Mayor Rosa Cardona highlighted that this investment represents a "very important step forward" and will equip the municipality with "new tools to manage better, control what happens, and anticipate the needs" of its residents.
The digitalization strategy includes the creation of a Smart Office, a digital management and control center that will integrate information on mobility, traffic, capacity, tourism, environment, and coastline. Through sensors, IoT, and artificial intelligence, it will provide a comprehensive view of the municipality, anticipate overcrowding situations, improve access management, and optimize the response of municipal services.
A key objective is the protection of the territory and environment. The project includes improving knowledge about ocean posidonia, controlling boat moorings, and early detection of fires. "Modernizing Xàbia also means protecting it better," stated Cardona.
Furthermore, a Digital Twin of Xàbia will be developed, a virtual representation of the territory fed by real data (geographic, tourist, environmental, meteorological, and mobility data) to enhance planning and decision-making. This technology will also offer new tools to the tourism and business sector to improve competitiveness and move towards a more balanced and de-seasonalized tourism model.
