Regional government backs €300K renovations at Balneario de Archena

The Murcia regional government said on May 13 it had committed nearly 300,000 euros to renovation works at the Balneario de Archena, a thermal spa complex in the Valle de Ricote. The funding will be used for structural improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades, water-saving systems and technology modernization, according to the regional tourism department. Tourism minister Carmen Conesa visited the site with Archena mayor Patricia Fernández and said the works were part of a broader push to upgrade tourism lodging across the region. The subsidy comes as the spa is also advancing a separate expansion project centered on a new thermal-water pool expected to open by the end of 2026. ### Where is the 300,000 euros going? The regional government said the grant will finance a package of works across the spa complex rather than a single new building. The largest item is the replacement of a water-treatment plant for 133,000 euros, with new filters, pumps and a control system intended to improve filtration quality and reduce water waste in the purification process. (carm.es) A further 72,000 euros will go to a solar-energy generation system, according to the Murcia government. Another 31,000 euros is earmarked for a rainwater capture, filtration, disinfection and purification system so water can be reused for irrigating the hotel grounds. The same release listed 25,000 euros for foundation structures and a retaining wall to protect the hotel from weather-related damage, 18,500 euros for upgraded thermal-pool water treatment controls, more than 8,800 euros for better internet connectivity and about 5,000 euros for a customer-management system. (carm.es) ### Which public program is paying for it? (carm.es) The Murcia regional government said the Archena subsidy falls under its plan to revitalize and improve the sustainability of tourist accommodation in the region. The plan has a total budget of 7.5 million euros and is financed with European Union Next Generation funds, according to the official release. (carm.es) Carmen Conesa said the program is supporting the modernization of 65 tourism establishments in Murcia, including hotels and non-hotel accommodation. She said the aim was to move the sector toward higher standards of sustainability, efficiency and service quality. ### What is Balneario de Archena? Balneario de Archena describes itself as a thermal complex of more than 200,000 square meters in the Murcia region, on the Segura river in the Valle de Ricote. (carm.es) The complex says its location is tied to a mineral-medicinal spring beneath the site and that it operates year-round as a health-tourism destination. The official Murcia tourism website lists the spa at Ctra. del Balneario, s/n, in Archena and describes its services as including thermal pools, hydrotherapy and other wellness treatments. The site also lists accessibility features, parking and an electric-vehicle charging point. ### How is the spa performing in 2026? (balneariodearchena.com) La Opinión de Murcia reported on May 13 that Balneario de Archena had posted an average occupancy rate of 82% between January and April 2026. The newspaper said the complex recorded 143,953 overnight stays and 19,480 travelers in that period. (turismoregiondemurcia.es) The same report said revenue for the first four months reached 6,862,522 euros, or 5.5% above budget. Patricia Fernández said projects tied to wellness and health tourism help attract visitors throughout the year and support local economic activity. ### Is this the same project as the new thermal pool? (laopiniondemurcia.es) A separate 2.4 million-euro project is under way at the spa to build a new mineral-water wellness pool, according to La Opinión de Murcia. The newspaper reported that the facility is designed with a 400-square-meter water surface, a 1,000-square-meter rest area and capacity for 100 adults. (laopiniondemurcia.es) Local officials said that pool is expected to open at the end of 2026. The regional grant of nearly 300,000 euros, by contrast, covers modernization works including water treatment, solar power, drainage reuse, connectivity and structural protection already detailed by the Murcia government. ### What happens next at Archena? (laopiniondemurcia.es) The Balneario de Archena project now moves forward on two tracks: the regional-government-backed modernization works announced on May 13 and the separate opening of the new thermal-water pool projected for late 2026. Carmen Conesa, Patricia Fernández and spa executives toured the site this week as work continued on both the refurbishment measures and the new wellness area. (carm.es)