New records for tourism in Malaga
We’ve noticed that Malaga seems to be busier this year and certainly the Guide to Malaga website has received a lot more visits so far in 2018. And official figures have confirmed that tourism in Malaga has gone up this year particularly among foreign visitors.
Figures from the Spanish Institute of Statistics (INE in Spanish) point to an increase of 9.42% in the number of tourists staying at hotels in Malaga in the first 6 months of this year. Of the total 654,655, just over 60% were foreigners, up 10.85% on the same period in 2017.
Record month of June
June was a particularly busy month. Hotel visitors went up by over 10% making it the best June for tourism in Malaga on record and the third best month ever. May also registered record visitor figures.
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Maybe the lovely June temperatures had something to do with it? Or the arrival of Andy Warhol at the Picasso Museum? Or is this the start of the confirmation that Malaga makes a great short break destination whenever you choose to visit?
Malaga tourism leads Spain
The January to June statistics in Malaga were far better than the average of Spain where hotel visitors went up by just 1.5%. Malaga city also registered the second highest increase in Spain behind just Palma de Mallorca and a full 6 points ahead of Zaragoza, its nearest competitor.
US visitors go on the up
Guide to Malaga visitors from the US have soared this year so it’s no surprise to discover that American tourists in Malaga went up by over 23% between January and June. Other nationalities with a big increase in hotel stays were the French, Germans, Belgians and Irish, all up by between 20% and 23%.
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Tourism in Malaga for the rest of 2018
We’re expecting more monthly records as 2019 progresses and more tourists discover all the city has to offer. Examples of big events on the horizon include:
Malaga Fair – about to start and 8 full days of fun and festivities.
Malaga Jazz Festival – at the end of October and beginning of November with big-name concerts.
Christmas in Malaga – with that fantastic light-and-sound display on Calle Larios.
So it wouldn’t surprise us to discover that 2018 turns out to be bumper year for tourism in Malaga. Meanwhile, we’ll be keeping tourists up-to-date with the best information in Malaga in English!
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