The President of Alicante Provincial Council, Toni Pérez, has called for the investments needed to sustain record tourism growth, making a rail connection to Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport his top priority. He made the comments on Wednesday during Hosbec’s General Assembly, where Aena also outlined planned investments in airports across the Valencian Community.

Pérez said forecasts for the summer season are breaking records for passenger arrivals, overnight stays and bookings. He stressed that the airport is the main gateway for both international and domestic tourism, as well as an important departure point for local residents.

A decade ago, the airport handled around 10 million passengers a year. With current projections, it is now expected to exceed 20 million, making it the fifth busiest airport in Spain, serving the country’s fourth most populous province.

However, Pérez warned that the terminal still depends on a single road connection. He argued that sustainable growth requires better transport links, particularly a rail connection. He also linked future infrastructure planning to the need for national budgets in 2027, saying stable investment is essential to secure the province’s continued development.