Laurence Dollimore
MILLIONS of British tourists have travelled to the Costa del Sol this year despite Brexit uncertainty.
According to new figures, some 2.37 million Brits arrived at Malaga airport between January and September 2019, a 2.5% year-on-year increase.
Of that figure, some 817,340 stayed in hotels in Malaga province, a 2.8% boost on last year.
It also meant there were 4.1 million overnight stays, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%.
Some 65% of the British bookings made in Andalucia were for hotels on the Costa del Sol, making it the favourite holiday hotspot.
However many Brits chose Airbnb, campsites or their own properties as accommodation.
Francisco Salado, president of Turismo Costa del Sol, which presented the figures, revealed that the British tourist spent an average of 8.4 days in Malaga province with an average daily expenditure of €100 euros.
According to research, the favourite activities of the Brits include the beach, hiking, visiting monuments and eating.
In a survey, the average Brit gave the region 9 out of 10 while three quarters said they will return.
Meanwhile, 99% said they would recommend it to family and friends.
It comes as the Costa del Sol plans to go big at the World Travel Market in London next week.
“We are going to the WTM with more force than ever, Spain is the first destination for British tourists and we hope it will remain that way for many years,” said Salado.
Turismo Costa del Sol will have its own space next to the stand of the Junta de Andalucia and will invest around €300,000 into its advertising campaign both inside the Excel pavilion and across the London underground.
The collapse of Thomas Cook has not had a great impact on the Costa del Sol as it only managed a handful of hotels there.
Salado added that, for now, there is no record of a negative impact and that in fact flights are increasing.
“We hope that Brexit does not affect us,” he continued, “We have had an umbilical cord between Great Britain and the Costa del Sol for generations and we will continue to be a competitive destination, even if the pound is depreciated.”
