Javia Bckground

Agriculture

In the valley of Javea people find and grow and market wheat crop, which gives way to oranges because of the rich underground aquifer that requiring minor maintenance and manpower.

This type of planting, used for a long time, is a method of irrigation called “drip,” which better distributes the restraint and necessary amount of water consumed by each tree (around 100 liters).

Many wheat fields were turned into vineyards, and the town had a cooperative that brought the annual harvest (from September to November) and the preparation of the mistelle or muscat wine, which is very tasty and sweet. Such cooperatives disappeared for 80 years, reducing the winemaking business to being prepared only for family consumption and small sales.

It is estimated that the population has more than doubled, reaching some 150,000 people in the summer, although tourism in Javea is year-round. Numerous activities are developed around these population movements: catering, hospitality, and varied sport and leisure activities.

Tourism began in the mid-1960s with the creation of a Parador de Turismo. It was set as the focal point of the Arenal Beach, but there are a variety of beaches composed of different materials: gravel, coarse (rock), stone, and rock.

This variety allows people to enjoy a number of options when going to the beach or to just relax in the sand. The beaches of coarse (rock) offer scuba diving, and there are coves where you can enjoy the seascape.

Demographics

Javea has a population of 34,000 inhabitants (2008), of whom 53.1% are of foreign nationality. Most nonnationals from other countries are from the European Union (11,894 or 39.7%) and are mainly British (6833 or 24.6%) and German (1959 or 6 5%).

Business

Although in the early 20th century Javea had an economy based on agriculture and fisheries, it was transformed by the end of the century to a totally tourist industry due to the favorable conditions such as sun and sand and characteristic of the Mediterranean area.

Tourism

Today tourism drives the local economy, based mainly on the hyperactive sector of construction and real estate activities in general. The population of Javea has grown at an impressive pace, with residents coming mainly from northern Europe each year.

A rather high purchasing power is concerned, although a very strong immigration from Morocco or South American countries has taken place in recent years, as they are forced to look for work.

Livestock

The local livestock has never become important due to lack of practice. The animals are the most widespread—sheep and goats, which in the past, people sold their milk. Although Javea is a great extension, not all of it could be used as pasture, reaching today the existence of two or three pastors, with “legacy” herds not reaching more than 100 head. Rearing chickens and rabbits are mostly at the family level.

Fisheries

Fishing still remains one of the main sources of income due, in part to the natural port located below the foothills of Cape San Antonio. Javea has a great seafaring tradition, taking its own slice and where fishing boats unload for other coastal towns, including Cadiz.