Tom Powell
EASTER this year brought more than just Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas to Malaga, with €29 million left in the city after a bumper week of trade.
With tourists and locals alike swelling the cafes, bars and shops, the city made €5 million more than Easter last year according to official council figures.
Restaurants and bars in particular are reporting a 12% increase on takings, while hotels were 98.9% full at the start of the week – a 3.8% increase on 2013.
Malaga recorded an estimated 323,000 people in the city, 4.5% more than last year. This is in part due to the arrival of nine cruise ships in the port, bringing with them nearly 20,000 tourists.
The weather also played its part, with the rain storms holding off until the Sunday and Monday.
Mayor Francisco de la Torre has claimed they are already the city’s best economic figures in recent years. He linked the results to the increase in promoting the Semana Santa festival.
And it appears those who came were pleased they did so, with an average rating of 8.54 out of 10 from travellers quizzed by the council’s Planning and Development department (SOPDE).
A third of respondents expressed their willingness to return in future to Malaga’s Easter festivities, while an overwhelming 94.4% said they will recommend a visit to family and friends.
