Torre del Tostón Becomes a Benchmark

Tourism in La Oliva generates more than €40,000 through El Cotillo’s main historic reference

The Torre del Tostón, perched in El Cotillo, welcomed over 22,000 visitors in 2025, solidifying its role as one of the municipality’s principal cultural and tourism assets. The northern council explains that the tower is now a key element of the City Hall’s tourism strategy, managed by the Department of Tourism under David Fajardo, aimed at creating a profitable, sustainable municipal museum network with a direct impact on the local population.

Declared a Bien de Interés Cultural and built in the 18th century to defend the Majorcan coast, the historic site has transformed into a cultural reference point for both residents and tourists, reinforcing La Oliva’s positioning as a destination that blends heritage, identity, and tourism.

Economic Impact

• Revenue: More than €40,000 collected in 2025.
• Visitors: Over 22,000 guests, the majority from European markets such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France, plus a significant share of local and Canary Island visitors.
• Management: A newly implemented revenue‑collection system has improved efficiency, control, and transparency, laying the groundwork for a model that preserves heritage while ensuring economic viability.

Official Statements

“These data demonstrate that when we care for our heritage and open it to the public, the response is clear. The Torre del Tostón is the example of the model we want to promote: living cultural spaces that are useful and capable of generating economic activity and social return for our neighbors.”
— Isaí Blanco, Mayor of La Oliva

“Our objective is to move towards a municipal museum network that valorises La Oliva’s history, is sustainable, and contributes to the municipality’s development.”
— Isaí Blanco, Mayor of La Oliva

“We are consolidating a more diversified tourism model where heritage plays a key role. The Torre del Tostón shows that it is possible to attract visitors year‑round while generating income that allows us to keep improving these spaces.”
— David Fajardo, Councilor for Tourism

“This strategy not only benefits the visitor; it has a direct impact on the local economy, improves public services, and even creates jobs for our university graduates.”
— David Fajardo, Councilor for Tourism

The City Hall also highlights the importance of resident visitors, especially those from the Canary Islands, who form a core user group and help transform these sites into genuine cultural meeting points.

Future Strategy

The Torre del Tostón’s success is part of a broader municipal heritage recovery and activation plan, which includes:

• Gradual creation of a network of museums and interpretive centres across the municipality.
• Combining conservation, innovation, and efficient management to ensure that La Oliva’s historic assets become a real engine of economic development, cultural identity, and social cohesion.
• Ongoing work in maintenance, staffing, improvement, and promotion to offer visitors a unique experience that generates additional tourist‑derived benefits for the municipality.