Calpe

A diver has died in Las Galletas after getting into difficulty whilst on a dive. Emergency services were called on Tuesday morning when a man was found to be floating 200 metres from the coast. Paramedics attended to the man, however he was pronounced dead at the scene. ************ Weather officials have warned people with breathing conditions to be aware of the arrival of a calima over the next few days. The weather system will bring not only an increase in temperatures, but also dust and higher winds. The calima is expected to reach it’s peak this weekend. ************ Hotel occupancy has risen across the Costa Blanca last month, with a rise of 2.7% on the same time last year. The latest figures show an increase in visitors from America, as well as a rise in domestic visitors. L’Alfas del Pi and Calpe were the towns recording the highest occupancy levels. ************ 34 towns and villages in the Valencia region could be granted ‘tourist municipality’ status, meaning their shops can open whenever their owners or managers wish. It paves the way for Sunday and bank holiday trading as well as late-night and lunchtime opening, although exactly when shops and supermarkets trade will be decided by local government. The municipalities which could get open-all-hours licences include Santa Pola, Guardamar del Segura, Torrevieja and the built-up coastal stretch known as the Orihuela Costa which belongs to the inland town of Orihuela.