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Benidorm and the birth of package tourism

The story of the mayor who created one of the world's biggest holiday resorts.

The Spanish town of Benidorm is now one of the world's most popular holiday resorts - receiving more than 10 million visitors a year. The hotels and skyscrapers are the vision of Benidorm's mayor in the 1950s and 60s, Pedro Zaragoza. Zaragoza personally convinced Spain's dictator, General Franco, to allow more tourism - and to allow sunbathers to wear the bikini. Simon Watts introduces the memories of Pedro Zaragoza, as recorded by Radio Elche Cadena Ser shortly before his death.

PHOTO: A busy day in Benidorm (Reuters)

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9 minutes

Last on

Fri 31 Jul 2020 02:50GMT

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  • Thu 30 Jul 2020 07:50GMT
  • Thu 30 Jul 2020 11:50GMT
  • Thu 30 Jul 2020 17:50GMT
  • Fri 31 Jul 2020 02:50GMT

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