The summer just gone was distinctive on a number of levels, including that it was the first summer after the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and other restrictions having now long been lifted around Europe and the wider world.
And it also proved to be a highly successful summer as far as the tourist sector in southern Spain was concerned, SUR in English reporting that visitor numbers – and the money earned from such visitors – were even higher in the region in 2022 than they had been during 2019.
Spanish visitors largely drive an impressive revival
Sightseeing in Andalucia may be largely a pursuit of tourists from overseas rather than necessarily Spanish nationals, but it seems it was the latter group that largely fuelled the Costa del Sol tourist industry’s resurgence during the past summer.
The Costa del Sol tourist board said there had been a major surge in the number of Spanish visitors to this part of the country. Indeed, according to the English-language newspaper, not only have the tourism statistics for the summer of 2022 been impressive, but the prospects for the next few months also look very encouraging.
The report said that over the course of the three peak summer months of June, July, and August, some 5.7 million tourists paid a visit to Málaga province, including the Costa del Sol. That represented a 0.8% increase from 2019’s figure.
There was also a big rise in the amount of income generated from hotel rooms, climbing some 21.7% from the reading in 2019 to reach an average of €115.70.
Although the number of international arrivals at Málaga Airport decreased by 10% in 2022 compared to the situation in the last pre-COVID-19 summer three years ago, the heightened number of Spanish visitors helped compensate for this.
Could the Costa del Sol be the perfect place to which to escape this winter?
It’s already looking like the next few months won’t be the ideal time to be based in colder parts of Europe, such as the UK. And with the number of flight seats on offer to the Costa del Sol for the period leading up to Christmas reported to be nearly 19% up on what was available in 2021, could now be the perfect opportunity for you to head to the fabulous south coast of Spain?
Citizens in such areas of the continent as Germany, the Netherlands and the UK face the prospect of dauntingly high heating bills if they simply wish to stay warm over the coming months. So, if you are one of them, why not consider spending at least part of the looming winter sightseeing in Andalucia instead, where you won’t be so cold?
Yes, we really are entering the time of the “energy nomad”, and with its excellent facilities and wealth of things to do, the Costa del Sol makes sense as a winter holiday destination in more ways than one.
To find out more about our great-value private hire transfer services here at Simply Shuttles that could help make your time here even more hassle-free and convenient, please feel free to call +34 951 279 117 now, or to send us an email via info@simply-shuttles.com.
