Marbella tourist sector expects a great summer
A title like this might lead you to believe that Marbella is expecting a great, sunny summer – and it is – but in addition to the weather this summer season is also set to be a particularly good one in terms of tourist visits and spending.
Last year the sector already recorded a strong increase in tourist numbers, but 2014 really got off to a good start when all records were broken in January. Normally one of the slower months for the tourist industry in this region, when it is above all golfers that venture to Marbella, this January produced a new record in tourist visits and revenue for the month.
Bolstered by this strong showing, hotels, restaurants, shops, cafés and spas alike looked forward to Easter, when Spanish visitors traditionally bolster visitor numbers as they come down south to enjoy the weather, atmosphere and Easter processions that rank among the best in the country. Again the results were above expectations, with a record number of cruise ships in Málaga harbour, high occupancy rates at Costa del Sol hotels and apartment rentals, and great turnover at restaurants and shops contributing to one of the best Easter periods ever.
The number of tourists visiting this region has been increasing steadily again since 2011, but it is very encouraging that this year there has also been a noticeable increase in per capita spending, even among Spanish tourists. Where hotel occupancy was a high 70 per cent across the Costa del Sol, in Marbella it approached 90 per cent – a figure normally only seen at the height of the summer season. Not only does Marbella continue to be the jewel in the crown of this region – now beautifully complimented by the bustle and cultural offer of nearby Málaga city – but if hotels were already almost fully booked in April the expectations for this summer are very positive indeed.
The usual drop-off noticed in the immediate aftermath of Easter has also not been in evidence this May, so it seems like Marbella is heading for a seamless transition from high-occupation Easter to an even livelier summer season that looks set to begin as early as June. All of this is further rejuvenating not just the local tourist sector but also the area’s shops, restaurants and other businesses, as well as holiday rentals and property sales. New businesses are being established, existing ones upgraded, modernised or expanded, and with infrastructural improvements still continuing the near future is looking very positive for Marbella.
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