Benidorm City Council has activated a special security deployment ahead of the football World Cup following an 18 per cent increase in flights from the United Kingdom to Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport during the tournament.
The Councillor for Public Safety, Jesús Carrobles, and the Chief of the Local Police, José Carlos Amorós, explained this Wednesday that the operation will be carried out in coordination with the National Police. The plan adapts to the progression of the competition and the matchups that arise.
According to municipal officials, the deployment will pay specific attention to matches involving the England and Scotland national teams. These fixtures are considered to have the highest capacity for drawing large crowds of football fans to Benidorm, which remains the leading destination for British tourism in Spain.
Amorós indicated that data provided by tour operators points towards an 18 per cent increase in air connections between the United Kingdom and Alicante coinciding with the World Cup. Local authorities expect a significant portion of these travellers to head to Benidorm to follow the matches in the town’s numerous establishments, which are equipped with large-screen displays.
The Chief of the Local Police recalled the experience of the European Championship final played two years ago between Spain and England, when Benidorm saw a major concentration of supporters from both national teams. This previous tournament required a specific deployment to guarantee public order and prevent incidents.
The planned framework for this World Cup includes police reinforcements during matches deemed to carry a higher risk. The schedule will also be influenced by the kick-off times, as some games will be played in the early hours of the morning due to the time difference with the host countries, which are spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For the opening matches involving England, the operation will additionally receive support from the National Police Intervention Unit (UIP).
Carrobles and Amorós highlighted that the deployment will primarily be preventive and deterrent. The goal is to guarantee safety for both residents and visitors during a summer when Benidorm will also host numerous tourism, cultural, and festive events.
The town is set to transform into an extension of the UK on match days, as English pubs prepare a massive effort to become a sanctuary for English and Scottish fans. Faced with high prices for flights, hotels, and match tickets to watch the tournament live in person, several local businesses are launching initiatives to establish Benidorm as an alternative host venue for visiting fans. Under slogans such as “the World Cup will be in Benidorm”, certain venues are advertising live broadcasts, hosts to build pre-match and post-match atmospheres, streaming programmes, fan interviews, and special events centred around the England and Scotland fixtures.
