● The first AVE stop in eastern Andalusia on the Mediterranean Corridor will turn the municipality into an economic engine for the Almeria region, making it one of the epicenters of mobility in the province of Almería and an engine of
economic growth.
● Business owners and authorities are committed to taking advantage of high speed rail to boost tourism and logistics.
Vera is heading towards a historic change with the future arrival of the AVE in 2027. During the recent conference “Potential of the Arrival of the AVE to Vera”, public officials, business owners, and experts analyzed the impact of high speed rail on the region, which promises an economic, social, and demographic transformation.
The mayor of Vera, Alfonso García Ramos, highlighted the municipality’s commitment to making the most of this opportunity: «Vera will be the gateway to the AVE through eastern Andalusia, which represents an immense challenge and responsibility.» According to García Ramos, the arrival of high speed rail will consolidate Vera as the epicenter of mobility in the Almeria region, promoting sustainable development and the well-being of the entire region.
García Ramos emphasized that, with the arrival of the AVE, Vera will become an economic and demographic engine: «We are leading the increase in inhabitants in the province and have one of the highest per capita incomes in the Levante. High speed rail will be key to consolidating our growth and attracting new investments.» In addition, he highlighted the City Council’s efforts to develop projects that break the seasonality of tourism and position Vera as a benchmark in residential and digital tourism.
Orihuela and Antequera, models of success
José Vegara, mayor of Orihuela, shared his experience on how the arrival of the AVE to his municipality in 2021 radically transformed the city. He emphasized that high speed rail has boosted the local economy by improving connections with Madrid and other economic centers, allowing Orihuela to strengthen business ties and attract more visitors. Vegara also pointed out the importance of burying the train tracks, which has allowed Orihuela to expand and improve its urban quality of life.
For her part, Ana María Cebrián, deputy mayor of Antequera, explained how the arrival of the AVE in 2006 catapulted her city as a logistics hub and an emerging tourist destination. «The AVE has connected Antequera with Madrid in just over two hours, which has transformed our economy and quality of life,» said Cebrián, highlighting the need to fight for adequate frequencies and quality services in the stations to maximize the impact of high speed rail.
Business and tourism opportunities
The business sector of the Levante also eagerly awaits the arrival of the AVE. José Caparrós, director of Primaflor, emphasized the importance of intermodality and how the AVE will be key to reducing the carbon footprint in the transport of goods. Caparrós also mentioned the launch of the Pulpí Dry Port, which will be a strategic point for transport and logistics in the region.
José María Rossell, vice president of the Playa Hotels Group, stressed the positive impact that high speed rail will have on tourism in the region, allowing to extend the seasonality and attract more visitors on weekends and holidays. However, he warned about the need to have adequate services and a quality infrastructure that guarantees the success of the project.
The president of the Almería Provincial Council, Javier Aureliano García Molina, reaffirmed the provincial institution’s support for the AVE project, assuring that the Provincial Council will be «the biggest ally of the tourism sector» to continue promoting the growth of the province. García Molina stressed that Vera will become the capital of the Almeria region, connected with Madrid, Valencia, Murcia, and Almería in competitive times, which will open new business and development opportunities.
Conclusion: A promising future
The conference concluded with a clear consensus: the arrival of the AVE to Vera will be a turning point for the entire region of Levante. Both local authorities and business owners are aligned in their vision of making the most of this infrastructure to transform the region into a benchmark for growth, innovation, and quality of life.
The Vera City Council, together with the institutions and economic agents, will continue working to ensure that, when the AVE arrives in 2027, the city and the region are prepared to receive it and benefit from all the opportunities that it will bring.
