If you have been considering arranging a spot of sightseeing in Andalucia this year, it is clear from the statistics that you will hardly be alone. Indeed, it has been confirmed that across the Costa del Sol and Málaga province, there were some 14 million overnight stays during the first six months of 2024 – a new record.
That figure compares to the 1.1 million stays that had been recorded for 2023’s corresponding period. Given that last year turned out to be the Costa del Sol’s best complete year to date in its history as a tourist destination, such data augurs very strongly indeed.
People are continuing to flock to the sun of southern Spain
The data setting out the excellent recent performance of the Costa del Sol’s tourism sector comes from Spain’s national statistics institute, or INE.
As reported by the SUR in English newspaper, Turismo Costa del Sol puts together a monthly tourism situation report, drawing upon INE figures.
The most recent such publication indicates that for the first time, all tourist accommodation – with the exception of holiday rental properties, which are not yet incorporated into these monthly analyses – has surpassed 14 million stays in the first six months of the year.
This means that, compared to the January-to-June period of 2023, this year’s equivalent timeframe has seen a 9% increase in the numbers of stays (a rise of 1.1 million). Such numbers are all the more impressive given that January and February are typically the weakest months for the Costa del Sol tourism sector.
A rise in stays very much powered by visitors from overseas
The statistics make clear the profound role that international tourists – as opposed to visitors from within Spain – have played in the recent stellar growth.
Indeed, there was a 13.4% increase in the number of nights booked by tourists from other countries. This underscores that plenty of people from far afield are continuing to be attracted to the prospect of sightseeing in Andalucia.
It also seems that the Costa del Sol’s reputation as a satisfying place to visit outside the traditional peak summer months is growing. As SUR in English noted, “the improvement in flight connections during the low season is beginning to make its mark.”
The newspaper observed that of the 14 million stays registered for the Costa del Sol during the six months, hotels accounted for 10 million.
Also revealed in the data were intriguing insights into exactly where visitors to the region were coming from. More than six in 10 (63%) tourists who visited the Costa del Sol during June were international, with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the Netherlands accounting for most of those. Furthermore, markets such as Italy, Belgium, and Poland recorded strong recent growth in visitor numbers to southern Spain.
By taking advantage of our own professional private hire transfer services here at Simply Shuttles, you can discover for yourself the charms and stimulations of this region. It’s a quick and simple process to book your great-value transfer on our website, or you can learn more by giving us a call today, on +34 951 279 117.
