The prime frontline building in Santiago de la Ribera can now be used again for its original purpose

The regional government of Murcia has reassigned the building in Santiago de la Ribera in which the Hospital de Los Arcos was located for use in the tourism sector, with permission to refurbish it as a hotel.

This will come as a boost to the local Town Hall’s attempts to attract hotel investment in the municipality and reflects the government’s determination to strengthen the tourist sector still further in the Mar Menor area, as well as its desire to make use of the building which was replaced as the area hospital by the new Los Arcos hospital in 2011. It is calculated that the newly adapted building could be converted into a hotel with as many as 150 double rooms, although that figure may prove to be higher still if and when local construction regulations are modified.

The history of the building on the Paseo de Colón is an interesting one, as it was originally built as a hotel before becoming a hospital in 1979. It was acquired by the regional government in 1984 and remained in use for that purpose until 15 years ago, since when it has been at the service of the municipal canoeing and kayaking school – now, though, the attractions of the location, with a façade of 110 metres or so looking out directly onto the Mar Menor, have led to it being reassigned for its original purpose.

As recently as last year an initiative to allow an 18-storey skyscraper hotel on the 5,643-square-metre plot had to be scrapped after the national Ministry of Ecological Transition refused to sanction it, but now it seems that the path is clear for some kind of tourism initiative to prosper again at this prime location.

Main image: Google Maps

For more local events, news and visiting information contact the tourist offices of San Javier (main contact number 661 572285) or go to the home page of San Javier Today.

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