costa del sol tourism statistics

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Tourist statistics of Malaga and the Costa del Sol in recent years

Malaga is a world tourist power and its economy depends on the number of travellers preferring the Costa del Sol year after year to other destinations. This fact is irrefutable having it at hand and even more significant if you look at it in retrospect.

The Patronato de Turismo de la Costa del Sol compared the touristic figures of the years between 1993 and 2007. The results proof the push and strength of the sector. In that period the Costa del Sol accommodated 107 million tourists. Those tourists spent 44827 million Euro, which was  almost the double of the gross domestic product of the region.

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Tourism growth

Already in 1993 the Costa del Sol was one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain. However, the differences between now and then are enormous. A clear example is the number of people working in the tourism sector.

I have compiled the tourist numbers of Malaga over a period of 15 years (1993-2007). The results prove the strength of this sector:

In 1993, also in the middle of economic crisis, 36513  people were working in the services sector. We can find by the end of 2007 the number of 79.143 workers, an increase of 116 percent.

Hotels obviously were the most favoured with more than 49 million tourists. One of the Costa del Sol bets was investing into quality by creating mainly hotels with four or five stars.  Malaga copes better with the economic crises than most other national or international tourist destinations.

Between 1993 and 2007 35312 hotel vacancies were created. This increased the quote of hotels on the Costa del Sol with four and five stars to 61% in relation to the 31% in 1993. In total 252 new hotels opened in that period, counting mainly with foreign guests.

Holiday apartments, the new trend

In 2017 the tourist apartments are booming. Holidays in an apartment are generally cheaper and more personal than in a large hotel chain. All this despite the new taxes added that seek to penalize or make more profitable this practice for the government.

It seems that this trend will keep up its growth rate. In early 2017 the city of Malaga proved to be one of the main cities in Spain in reservations for this type of accommodation.

Cheaper trips

Internet and low cost flight companies captured the market. Tour operators are becoming less important and millions of tourists all over the world are organizing their trips by themselves.

Reductions on flight tickets have caused a change in the travel habits of the tourists. Instead of one large holiday per year they now opt for more, but shorter trips. In 1993 for example the average stay of a tourist on the Costa del Sol was 15 days, now its 11 days.

Touristic commercialization and promotion concentrates nowadays, instead of big fairs, on almost personalized offers, very focused on the end customer. Just that way the Costa del Sol will be able, if it wants, to double its figures again.

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Travel blogger, web developer and content editor. Author of many of the travel guides and tips available online about Andalucia, Malaga and Spain. View all posts by Raúl G.T

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Costa del Sol Tourism Statistics

Costa del Sol, a popular tourist destination in southern Spain, has witnessed remarkable growth in its tourism industry over the years. This article offers an in-depth analysis of the latest Costa del Sol tourism statistics, highlighting its key drivers and major trends.

International Tourists Lead the Way

Rise of vacation rentals, boost in tourism revenue, sustainable tourism initiatives, most recent blog posts, record-breaking visitor numbers.

Recent data reveals that Costa del Sol has experienced a significant increase in both domestic and international tourists. According to the Costa del Sol Tourist Board , the region welcomed over 12.4 million visitors in 2022, a 10% increase from the previous year. This impressive growth is attributed to the region’s sunny climate, stunning beaches, and rich cultural heritage.

The majority of Costa del Sol’s tourists come from abroad, with the United Kingdom, Germany, and France being the top three source countries ( INE ). British tourists account for 30% of all international visitors, followed by Germans at 15% and French at 12%. The growing number of direct flights and competitive prices have played a crucial role in attracting these international tourists.

Expanding Accommodation Options

The increase in tourist arrivals has led to a corresponding growth in the demand for accommodation. Costa del Sol now offers a diverse range of lodging options, from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels. The Andalusian Institute of Statistics and Cartography reports that the region had over 1,500 registered accommodation establishments in 2022, providing more than 200,000 bed spaces.

Vacation rentals have emerged as a popular accommodation choice in Costa del Sol. Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO have seen a surge in listings, offering tourists the opportunity to experience local living. In fact, vacation rentals accounted for 25% of the total accommodation market in 2022, as per Statista .

The growing number of tourists has had a positive impact on Costa del Sol’s economy. In 2022, the region generated €8 billion in tourism revenue, an 8% increase from the previous year ( INE ). This growth can be attributed to higher spending on accommodation, dining, and local attractions.

As Costa del Sol’s tourism industry continues to expand, sustainability has become a top priority. The region has introduced several eco-friendly initiatives, such as the Costa del Sol Biosphere Reserve and the Green Flag Beaches . These efforts aim to preserve the region’s natural beauty while promoting responsible tourism practices.

Costa del Sol’s tourism industry has shown remarkable growth, with millions of visitors flocking to its sun-soaked shores each year. The latest statistics indicate that the region’s diverse attractions, expanding accommodation options, and commitment to sustainability will continue to drive its success in the global tourism market.

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International Tourism Statistics for Andalucia

International tourist statistics for andalucia.

by Chris Chaplow

2023 figures - the recovery continues

Official data by INE (National Statistics Institute, see table below) for 2023  recorded 12.2 million international arrivals to Andalucia, a record year, just overtaking the 12.02 million in 2019. This means that international tourism numbers in Andalucia returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, which is a hugely significant moment for the tourism industry here. 

Figures should only be compared to those from 2019 (see below), the last "normal" year, to indicate the recovery of tourism after the pandemic. International tourists to Andalucia are defined as those making an overnight stay, whose country of residence is not Spain, and whose main destination in Spain is to Andalucia.

However international arrivals in 2023 were not the same for all countries. The UK, which is the biggest country for tourist arrivals here in Andalucia, still has a way to go to recover pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, UK arrivals were 2.65 million, ahead of 2022's 2.40 million but only 88 % of  2019 pre-pandemic year of 3.01 million tourists.

2020 to 2022: from pre-pandemic record levels to post-pandemic recovery

In 2019,  the last pre-pandemic year, Andalucia received 10.8  million international tourists , which was the highest ever recorded, and greeted with delight by the regional government. This figure was 3.4% up on 2018, and in line with consistent growth from 2010 to 2019.

In 2020 , the first year of the Covid pandemic,   Andalucia received only 2.7 million international tourists . January and February were up about 3% on 2019, but after mid-March when the Coronavirus pandemic.struck, borders were closed until mid-July, when restrictions and/or tests made it complicated for international tourists to visit.

• Airport Statistics for Andalucia

In 2021 the recovery started -   Andalucia received 4.2 million international tourists , about a third of pre-pandemic levels. In the second half of the year, as restrictions eased international tourist numbers increased, with October / November reaching about 75% of 2019 levels (see monthly table, below). However the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus at the end of the year caused a reduction in reservations for the 2022 holiday season, which usually see a boost in January.

The 2021 national tourist arrivals (including Andalucian tourists) increased substantially in 2021, with close to 20 million tourists helping the economy of the tourism, and especially the hotel, sector. Of the 20 million, 77% were national, and about half of these were Andalucian residents travelling within Andalucia, possibly helped by the hotel discount voucher offered by the regional government. This supported the local destinations' economies, but not the Andalucian tourism economy as a whole.

In 2022 Andalucia received 10  million international tourists . This is equivalent to 83% of the 2019 peak, and similar to the 2015/6 figures. 

These figures would place Andalucia, if it were a country, about 25th in a world league of foreign tourist arrivals.

Internationally 2022 started slowly, since the Covid wave over New Year delayed summer reservations. January 2022, for example, saw 56% international arrivals compared to 2019 levels, but UK arrivals were only back to 39%.

In the first half of 2022, international tourists were at 77% of 2019 levels. Many reports optimistically predicted that 2022 would be a bumper summer for travel to Spain, and indeed the second half of the year recorded a more impressive 89%. 

International Tourists in Andalucia - by year

In the table we observe the increase in international (ie non Spanish) tourist arrivals to Andalucia. A general increase from 2000 to 2007, then the fall to 2010, followed by the rise back to 2019, then the pandemic in 2020/1 and the recovery in 2022 and 2023.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Movimentos turisticas en frontera. Frontur .

International Tourists to Andalucia - by month

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Movimentos turisticas en frontera. Frontur   Data published by INE five weeks after end of month.

British Tourists to Andalucia - by month

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Movimentos turisticas en frontera. Frontur   data Data published by INE five weeks after end of month.   

International Tourists to Andalucia - by country

In the table below, for 2011 and 2010 and 2009, we show the international tourists in Andalucia by their country or region of residence.

Source: Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Frontur.

Compare tourists by country - Summer 2019 and 2023

If international tourist to Andalucia is just above 2019 level and UK is down, which countries are up? In the table below, which just looks at the summer school holiday months of July and August one can see which countries have increased and which have descreased. Countried with less than about 25.000 per mont are not included in the published Data.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Movimentos turisticas en frontera. Frontur   data

Tourist visits to towns in Andalucia

Tourist visits to towns in Andalucia are measured by INE from hotel occupation records. They don't reflect when a town receives day trip visits only overnight stays. A tourist staying serveral nights is counted once however a tourist changing hotel will be counted twice.

Source: Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica.

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Washed by the Mediterranean Sea, the Costa del Sol extends along more than 150 kilometres of coastline in the province of Malaga, in the southern Iberian Peninsula. Its name, the “Coast of the Sun”, is not due to mere chance: with over 325 sunny days a year and a benevolent climate, this is a paradisiacal place with beaches to suit all tastes.

Starting at the Maro cliffs, and extending through Nerja, with its Balcón de Europa viewing point and cave; delightful Torrox; stately Vélez-Málaga; attractive Rincón de la Victoria; the magnificent capital; the famed Torremolinos; Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Estepona, Manilva and peaceful Casares, the Costa del Sol is a dream location for a holiday where the possibilities are endless.

Each beach has its own charms. Some are livelier, others are quieter and more solitary; some are absolutely untouched and others have the most modern services. You will surely find your own personal paradise on the Costa del Sol.

From the western coast of Cadiz to Nerja, on the border with the province of Granada, there is an area where tourism is highly developed. The waters are calm, warm and transparent, and the scenery is beautiful and varied, as many beaches are set between the mountains and the sea.

A large percentage of the total accommodation available in Andalusia is concentrated on the western Costa del Sol. There are many tourist services of all types, including berths for sporting boats at 13 marinas and yacht clubs, as well as golf courses, all types of sports facilities, casinos and a myriad of leisure and entertainment options.

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Costa del Sol tourism set for record year

After a record Easter week and a solid first quarter, Costa del Sol tourism expects a record year for visitor figures and hotel occupancy. The optimism covers the entire area, with the cities of Malaga and Marbella as stand-out locations for the highest figures. 

Q1 data exceeds pre-pandemic figures 

2019 registered the best year ever for Costa del Sol tourism regarding visitor figures. However, if the latest data is anything to go by, 2023 could well exceed the pre-pandemic record. 

Two sources indicate the force of tourism this year. Firstly, the statistics from Malaga Airport show almost 1.5 million passengers in Q1 this year. The figure is more than 25% higher than the same period in 2022 and 9% higher than 2019, before the pandemic. 

Secondly, data for occupancy indicates that 1.04 million visitors stayed at hotels on the Costa del Sol between January and February. This represents a 25% uptick on 2022 and also a 6.4% increase compared to 2019. 

As a result, Costa del Sol tourism, in terms of visitor figures and hotel occupancy, is already on track to exceed the record set in 2019. 

Record Easter week 

According to the Association of Costa del Sol Hotel Businesses (AEHCOS), hotel occupancy reached 84.23% during Easter week. The figure is considerably above 2022 levels (75.84%), although it still remains below the occupancy rates registered in 2019 when they reached 86%. 

However, in some parts of the Costa del Sol, hotels were practically full. Marbella is a case in point, with hotels and restaurants packed to capacity over the holiday weekend. “The results were better than expected,” said Laura de Arce, Director of Marbella Tourism, “and this leads us to predict a record high season, with higher levels than before the pandemic.”

Malaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol, also experienced almost full occupancy during the height of Easter week. 

Holiday lets also busy 

No official statistics record occupancy levels in private holiday lets but data from holiday letting portals indicates the rates. For example,  according to Holidu , occupancy reached 85% on the Costa del Sol during Easter. 

Benalmádena and Torremolinos led the rankings, with levels of 89% and 86%, respectively. Marbella reached 83%, while in next-door Estepona, occupancy stood at 82%. 

Predictions for Costa del Sol holiday lets in 2023

Based on the figures so far this year, industry analysts believe that the vacation rental sector will also enjoy a buoyant 2023. “If we look at the data so far, holiday let occupancy has exceeded all expectations,” said Jaime del Rio, Director of the vacation rental management portal, Bookiply, in Andalusia. “We’re therefore predicting full occupancy this summer.” 

Average prices for holiday lets 

According to Holidu, the average daily rate (ADR) for holiday lets on the Costa del Sol at Easter was €142. However, advertised prices in many resorts are far higher for this year. 

For example, holiday lets in Marbella can expect an ADR of €203, the most expensive on the Costa del Sol. The rate in Estepona averages around €163, with the ADR in Mijas a considerably lower €136. 

Over 5 million scheduled airline seats 

Airlines have picked up on the surge in popularity of the Costa del Sol and are betting on a busy summer. According to the regional tourist board, arrivals at Malaga Airport are set to increase by 12.2% this summer. 

The uptick translates to over 5 million available seats for travel between May and September this year, an increase of 553,000 compared to the same period in 2019. 

(Source: AEHCOS, Holidu, Visit Costa del Sol)

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Spanish Costa’s del Sol hoteliers expect tourists numbers in July 2022 to exceed pre-pandemic levels

The Costa’s del Sol hoteliers association Aehcos predicts that July of this year will see more tourists than the same period of 2019.

“The data has improved remarkably over what was expected, we thought the occupancy would be around 78%,” Jose Luque, the director of the hoteliers association in Costa del Sol told the Olive Press.

According to the same data, hotels in July had an occupancy of 85%, surpassing 2019 levels when the occupancy was 84%.

Despite there being more tourists, Luque claimed hotel owners made less profit this year than in 2019 as a consequence of soaring electricity costs.

The data looks especially healthy when compared to the occupancy in July 2020 where only 58% of hotels were occupied on the Costa del Sol.

However, the association predicts that there will be a slow down in August with an occupancy of 82% – 8 percentage points down on 2019 levels.

The most booked place in Spain’s Costa del Sol for holidays in July is Marbella with a 91% occupancy rate followed by Torremolinos at 89%.

AEHCOS predicted 70% of tourism on the Costa del Sol would be from foreigners, but the figure is likely to be around 60%, as more Spaniards flock to this corner of the country.

In addition, Luque said international tourists have been impacted by widespread industrial action at Ryanair and Easyjet, Europe’s two largest budget airlines.

• The Olive Press meets Darren Parmenter, tourism councillor for San Fulgencio and La Marina Urbanisation in Spain
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Jorge Hinojosa

Jorge Hinojosa Mena was born and bred in Madrid before moving to the UK to study. After an undergraduate degree in Manchester, he completed an MA in International Journalism at City. He has worked in radio and for Spain’s Efe news agency before joining the Olive Press in March 2022. Contact: [email protected]

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Tourism statistics

Data extracted in December 2023.

Planned article update: December 2024.

62 % of EU residents made at least one personal tourism trip in 2022.

Half of EU residents' trips in 2022 were short domestic trips.

In 2022, Spain was the most popular EU destination for international tourists, with 271 million nights spent in tourist accommodation, or 22 % of the EU total.

Share of population participating in tourism, 2022

• Source: Eurostat (online data code: tour_dem_totot)

This article presents a general introduction to statistics on tourism in the European Union (EU) . The data shown here are discussed in more detail in several other articles . Tourism plays an important role in the EU because of its economic and employment potential, as well as its social and environmental implications. Tourism statistics are not only used to monitor the EU’s tourism policies but also its regional and sustainable development policies.

Full article

More than three out of four residents of the netherlands, luxembourg, finland, france and austria participated in tourism.

Tourism participation: 62 % of EU residents made at least one personal trip in 2022

It is estimated that 62 % of the EU population aged 15 or over took part in tourism for personal purposes in 2022, in other words they made at least one tourism trip for personal purposes during the year (such as holidays, leisure, visiting friends and relatives). However, large differences can be observed between the EU Member States , as this participation rate ranged from 27.8 % in Bulgaria to 83.7 % in the Netherlands (see Figure 1 and Table 1). The participation rate of 62 % was higher than in 2020, the first year affected by the pandemic (52 %) and 2021 (56 %), but still below the pre-pandemic level of 2019 (65 %).

More information can be found in the following article:

• Tourism statistics - participation in tourism

Tourism trips: Residents of Luxembourg, Belgium, Malta, Slovenia and the Netherlands made more foreign than domestic trips

75 % of all trips made by EU residents were inside their own country

EU residents (aged 15 and above) made nearly 1.1 billion tourism trips in 2022, for personal or business purposes. The number of trips increased by 51 % compared with 2020 and by 23 % compared with 2021, but was still 6 % below the pre-pandemic year 2019. More than half (56.4 %) of these trips were short trips of one to three nights (see Table 1). 75.5 % of all trips made were to domestic destinations, while 24.5% to destinations abroad.

In 2022, 94.5 % of the total number of tourism trips made by residents of Luxembourg were to destinations abroad, followed by Belgians with 74.5 %, residents of Malta (60.6 %), Slovenia (53.3 %) and the Netherlands (51.9 %). However, less than one out of ten trips taken by residents of Romania (8.1 %) and Spain (9.8 %) were abroad. These figures appear to be influenced by both the size of the Member States and their geographical location (smaller and more northerly countries tended to report a higher propensity for their residents to travel abroad).

In 2022, EU residents showed a preference to travel in the summer months with one fourth of their trips made in July or August.

More information can be found in the following publication:

• Tourism trips of Europeans (online publication)

Nights spent abroad by EU residents: Luxembourg leads in nights per inhabitant

Residents of Germany and the Netherlands spent nearly half of the total number of nights spent abroad by EU residents in 2022

EU residents spent an estimated 2.2 billion nights abroad on tourism trips in 2022 (see Figure 2). German residents spent 786 million nights on trips outside of Germany in 2022, while residents of the Netherlands spent 221 million nights abroad; residents from these two EU Member States accounted for nearly half (46.7 %) of the total number of nights spent abroad by EU residents.

When taking into account a country’s size in terms of its population, Luxembourg was the EU Member State whose residents spent the most nights abroad per inhabitant (an average of 38 nights in 2022), followed by the Netherlands (with 15 nights spent abroad per inhabitant) and Sweden (with 14 nights spent abroad per inhabitant). At the other end of the spectrum, residents of Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Portugal spent, on average, less than two nights abroad in 2022 (see Figure 3).

Bed places in the EU: Italy and France predominate

In 2022 35 % of all bed places in the EU were concentrated in Italy and France

It is estimated that there were more than 621 000 tourist accommodation establishments active within the EU in 2022 and together these provided 28.9 million bed places (see Table 2). More than one third (35.5 %) of all the bed places in the EU were concentrated in just two of the Member States, namely Italy (5.2 million bed places), and France (5.1 million), followed by Spain (3.8 million) and Germany (3.6 million).

• Tourism statistics - annual results for the accommodation sector

Nights spent by international guests in the EU: Spain on top

Nearly two out of five nights spent by international guests in the EU were spent in Spain and Italy

The number of nights spent at EU tourist accommodation establishments in 2020 dropped by more than 50 % compared with 2019. 2021 showed clear signs of recovery (see Figure 4), reaching nearly two thirds of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, while the upward trend continued in 2022, when it reached nearly 96 % of the pre-pandemic level. Short term indicators for monthly data showed that 2023 exceeded pre-pandemic levels (see Tourism statistics - nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments ).

In 2022, Spain was the most visited tourism destination in the EU for international tourists (people travelling outside their country), with 271 million nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments, or 22.4 % of the EU total (see Figure 5 and Figure 6). Half of these 271 million nights spent in Spain were concentrated in five NUTS 3 regions : Mallorca, Tenerife, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Malaga.

The second most popular EU destination for international tourists in 2022 was Italy (201 million nights), followed by France (125 million nights), Greece (112 million nights) and Croatia (82 million nights). These five countries together accounted for nearly two thirds (65.5 %) of the total nights spent by non-residents in the EU. On the other hand, the least common EU destinations in terms of nights spent, were Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania and Estonia with less than 3 million nights spent by international tourists in each of these countries in 2022.

The number of total nights spent (by domestic and international guests) can be put into perspective by making a comparison with the size of each country in population terms, providing an indicator of tourism intensity . In 2022, using this measure, the Mediterranean destinations of Croatia (23 nights spent per inhabitant), Malta and Cyprus (16 nights spent per inhabitant each) were on top (see Figure 7), followed by Austria and Greece (both with 13 nights spent per inhabitant).

More information can be found in the following articles:

• Tourism statistics - nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments
• Tourism statistics - seasonality at regional level

Tourism expenditure: highest spending by German residents

Germans were the biggest EU spenders on international travel, totalling €85.2 billion in 2022

The economic importance of international tourism can be measured by looking at the ratio of international travel receipts relative to GDP; these data are from balance of payments statistics and include business travel, as well as travel for pleasure. In 2022, the ratio of travel receipts to GDP was highest, among the EU Member States, in Croatia (19.3 %), Cyprus (9.9 %), Malta (8.8 %), Portugal (8.7 %) and Greece (8.6 %), confirming the importance of tourism to these countries (see Table 3). In absolute terms, the highest international travel receipts in 2022 were recorded in Spain (€69.2 billion), followed by France (€56.7 billion), Italy (€44.3 billion) and Germany (€30.0 billion).

Germany recorded the highest level of expenditure on international travel, totalling €85.2 billion in 2022, followed by France (€39.2 billion). When analysing this expenditure relative to the population, Luxembourg's residents spent on average €5 011 per inhabitant on travel abroad in 2022, far ahead of the second and third ranked countries, Ireland and Cyprus (€1 592 and €1 432 per inhabitant respectively), which were followed by Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands (all above €1 000 per inhabitant).

Spain was the EU Member State with the highest level of net receipts from travel in 2022 (€48.4 billion), while Germany recorded the biggest deficit (-€55.2 billion).

• Tourism statistics - expenditure

Source data for tables and graphs

Data sources

Tourism, in a statistical context, refers to the activity of visitors taking a trip to a destination outside their usual environment, for less than a year. It can be for any main purpose, including business, leisure or other personal reasons other than to be employed by a resident person, household or enterprise in the place visited.

In July 2011, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted a new Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 concerning European statistics on tourism and repealing Council Directive 95/57/EC ; this came into force for reference year 2012 and requires EU Member States to provide a regular set of comparable tourism statistics.

Tourism statistics in the EU consist of two main components: on the one hand, statistics relating to capacity and occupancy of collective tourist accommodation; on the other, statistics relating to tourism demand. In most EU Member States, the former are collected via surveys filled in by accommodation establishments, while the latter are mainly collected via traveller surveys at border crossings or through household surveys.

Statistics on the capacity of collective tourist accommodation include the number of establishments, the number of bedrooms and the number of bed places. These statistics are available by establishment type or by region and are compiled annually. Statistics on the occupancy of collective tourist accommodation refer to the number of arrivals (at accommodation establishments) and the number of nights spent by residents and non-residents, separated into establishment type or region; annual and monthly statistical series are available. In addition, statistics on the use of bedrooms and bed places ( occupancy rates ) are compiled.

Statistics on tourism demand are collected in relation to the number of tourism trips made (and the number of nights spent on those trips), separated by:

• destination country;
• length of stay;
• accommodation type;
• departure month;
• transport mode;
• expenditure.

The data are also analysed by the socio-demographic characteristics of the tourist:

• educational attainment level (optional);
• household income (optional);
• activity status (optional).

Up to 2013, tourism statistics were limited to at least one overnight stay; as of reference year 2014, foreign same-day visits are also covered by official European statistics.

Data from a range of other official sources may be used to study tourism. These statistics include:

• structural business statistics (SBS) and short-term business statistics (STS) which may be used to provide additional information on tourism flows and on the economic performance of certain tourism-related sectors;
• data on employment in the tourism accommodation sector from the labour force survey (LFS) , analysed by working time (full/part-time), working status, age, level of education, sex, permanency and seniority of work with the same employer (annual and quarterly data);
• data on personal travel receipts and expenditure from the balance of payments ;
• transport statistics (for example, air passenger transport).

According to a United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) publication titled ‘ International Tourism Highlights ’, the EU is a major tourist destination, with four of its Member States among the world’s top 10 destinations. Tourism has the potential to contribute towards employment and economic growth, as well as to development in rural, peripheral or less-developed areas. These characteristics drive the demand for reliable and harmonised statistics within this field, as well as within the wider context of regional policy and sustainable development policy areas.

Tourism can play a significant role in the development of European regions. Infrastructure created for tourism purposes contributes to local development, while jobs that are created or maintained can help counteract industrial or rural decline. Sustainable tourism involves the preservation and enhancement of cultural and natural heritage, ranging from the arts to local gastronomy or the preservation of biodiversity .

In 2006, the European Commission adopted a Communication titled ‘ A renewed EU tourism policy: towards a stronger partnership for European tourism ’ (COM(2006) 134 final). It addressed a range of challenges that will shape tourism in the coming years, including Europe’s ageing population, growing external competition, consumer demand for more specialised tourism, and the need to develop more sustainable and environmentally-friendly tourism practices. It argued that more competitive tourism supply and sustainable destinations would help raise tourist satisfaction and secure Europe’s position as the world’s leading tourist destination. It was followed in October 2007 by another Communication, titled ‘ Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism ’ (COM(2007) 621 final), which proposed actions in relation to the sustainable management of destinations, the integration of sustainability concerns by businesses, and the awareness of sustainability issues among tourists.

The Lisbon Treaty acknowledged the importance of tourism — outlining a specific competence for the EU in this field and allowing for decisions to be taken by a qualified majority. An article within the Treaty specifies that the EU ‘shall complement the action of the Member States in the tourism sector, in particular by promoting the competitiveness of Union undertakings in that sector’. ‘ Europe, the world’s No 1 tourist destination — a new political framework for tourism in Europe ’ (COM(2010) 352 final) was adopted by the European Commission in June 2010. This Communication seeks to encourage a coordinated approach for initiatives linked to tourism and defined a new framework for actions to increase the competitiveness of tourism and its capacity for sustainable growth. It proposed a number of European or multinational initiatives — including a consolidation of the socioeconomic knowledge base for tourism — aimed at achieving these objectives.

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• Trips of EU residents - annual data (ESMS metadata file — tour_dem_esms)
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• Methodological manual for tourism statistics
• Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism (Communication from the European Commission, October 2007)
• European Commission — Directorate-General (DG) for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs — Tourism
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Tourism figures fall on the Costa del Sol in July for the first time since 2012

The area has lost british visitors to other destinations such as turkey and egypt which have made a comeback with bargain prices.

Pilar Martínez

Monday, 10 September 2018, 11:51

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As the summer comes to a close and industry analysts draw their conclusions from the latest tourism statistics, it has become clear that the record-breaking figures of 2017 were exceptional and difficult to equal.

The July figures published by the INE (National Statistics Institute) show that on the Costa del Sol the steep growth the tourism industry has experienced in the last three years has come to a halt.

Sales of luxury goods have slowed this season in Marbella

The latest Frontur study, which gauges the movement of tourists at the country's frontiers, has shown that the number of foreign visitors has fallen in all of Spain's tourist destinations, including Andalucía. In fact in July, this region - Spain's third in terms of foreign visitor numbers (after Catalonia and the Balearics) - saw its first fall since 2012, a drop of 2.2% to a total of 1.3 million.

The reasons for the overall decline can be traced to a fall in British tourists, who make up 27.3% of the region's total. In July Spain as a whole received nearly 2.2 million British visitors, 22% of the country's total and a slump of 5.6% on the same month last year.

Andalusian resorts have also suffered this summer from falls in arrivals of French and German tourists, the two most important foreign markets for the area after the British, down 11.4% and 6.2%, respectively.

While July is a significant month to study on its own, the totals for the first seven months of 2018 together are more positive, with an increase of 1.1% and a total of more than 6.5 million tourists. The increase for the same period of 2017 was, however, as high as 10.3%.

Tourist spending

The INE also revealed this week the findings of the Egatur (Tourist Spending Survey), which measures how much foreign visitors spend while on holiday in Spain. In this case, though, Andalucía's results were positive in July with a total income of 1.6 billion euros, an increase of 0.2%. This, according to the survey, works out at an average spend per tourist per holiday of 1,209 euros, 2.5% more. The biggest increase was in the average expense per day, which was up 10.6% to 132 euros.

In Spain as a whole foreign tourists spent 11.7 billion euros in July, down 0.9% on the same month in 2017. The average spend per tourist per stay was 1,177 euros, up 4.2%, and the average spend per day was up 9.5% to 152 euros.

Accommodation

The decline in tourism figures has also been evident from the recently-published INE statistics on holiday accommodation. The figures take into account types of accommodation that are currently regulated by the authorities - hotels, hotel apartments, camp sites and rural holiday cottages - and reveal falls of 0.5% and 0.1% in visitors in June and July, respectively.

Figures for overnight stays are also negative with drops of 1.8% and 0.5% in June and July.

These same reports for July last year showed increases of 8.5% in visitors and 4% in stays.

Private rental properties are not included in these figures but their results can be gauged by the holiday rentals websites and the association that represents them, whose president is Carlos Pérez Lanzac.

He paints a similar picture to the INE results for hotels. "June was more or less the same as last year. In July owners had to drop prices to equal the number of nights as 2017, but we are confident that the August figures will keep up with last year's," he said, adding, "We don't expect to grow this summer, but to keep steady and maintain prices."

As with the Frontur figures, the fall in numbers of British and German tourists, who together make up 40% of the total, has been blamed for the negative accommodation results.

In July passenger arrivals at Malaga Airport were down 1.8% to 2,146,000, although the seven-month total up to July this year did show a 2.1% increase to more than 10.8 million, according to figures from the Spanish airports agency, Aena. In the first half of this year, though, Aena counted 4.6% fewer British visitors and 1.8% fewer Germans.

Competition recovery

The reason for this fall in international visitors lies with the recovery of rival Mediterranean destinations, especially Turkey. Not only has the country come back with bargain holiday prices, the devaluation of the Turkish lira with respect to the pound has made holidays even cheaper for the British.

Other countries such as Bulgaria and Croatia are also gaining ground, also offering cheaper holidays. Industry professionals have suggested that other factors, such as the weather and even jellyfish could have had an effect on British tourists' choice of destination.

The Spanish to the rescue

The decrease in overall tourism figures on the Costa del Sol would have been even worse this year if it weren't for the visitors from other parts of Spain. The Andalusian coastline has fared better than the island destinations - both Canaries and Balearics - where professionals turned to dropping prices to save the season. On the Costa del Sol the prices were kept the same until the end of July, although some hotels decided to launch special offers in August.

This is the first time since the end of the financial crisis that the sector has not continued to increase its prices and profitability.

The regional minister for Tourism and Sport, Francisco Javier Fernández remained optimistic, however. He pointed out that the number of Spanish tourists had increased making up for the fall in international visitors.

The president of the provincial government's organisation Turismo Costa del Sol, Elías Bendodo, said that the area should stick to its strategy of setting itself apart from its main competitors such as Tunisia, Turkey, Greece and Egypt, as well as from other Spanish destinations, by focusing on the quality of its services and attractions. "That is our main strength," he said.

Hoteliers are less optimistic

The president of the Association of Costa del Sol hoteliers (Aehcos), Luis Callejón Suñé, warned that further declines were expected in the August figures and that the current scenario was just the "tip of the iceberg".

Things would have been much worse, he said, if it hadn't been for the increase in Spanish visitors.

In order to win back British tourists he called for a change in marketing strategy "because we can't trundle on our millstones when the industry is changing every minute", he said.

• 1 Costa del Sol town stands to lose three million euros of European money for heritage project
• 2 This is where the next Sabor a Málaga foodie fair is happening from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 May
• 3 Costa del Sol town announces funding plan for housing reforms
• 4 New bus contract goes out to tender in Costa del Sol town with major plans for improved services
• 5 Clean sweep for Costa del Sol town as it picks up prestigious 'golden broom' award for its recycling centres
• 6 Fuengirola's official language school introduces new Spanish for foreigners course
• 7 Pedestrianisation of Marbella neighbourhoods will make 'day-to-day life easier'
• 8 The children's rock band from Marbella that has wowed the judges on popular Spanish TV talent show, La Voz Kids
• 9 This is the village in Malaga province where, this weekend, you can try the Asian fruit it is now famous for
• 10 Malaga province town offers visits to the only working sugar cane honey mill in Europe this weekend

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