Has the Costa del Sol just had its best summer ever?

Even with winter on its way, the Costa del Sol is still poised to attract holidaymakers, such is its popularity.

What makes a good summer? Is it the weather? The amount of times one makes it to the beach? A successful football tournament? Exciting travel? A fleeting romance?

Summer can mean many different things to many different people, but to a region like the Costa del Sol, summer tends to mean vibrant beaches, blue skies, busy restaurants and boosted coffers for hotels, bars, cafes and clubs…

And while busier is not always better, for a part of the world so reliant on tourism, the more people that the Costa del Sol can attract the better its reputation, services and experience will become.

With that in mind, it is fair to say that Spain’s Costa del Sol has just enjoyed its best summer ever. Data from the region’s hotel association AEHCOS and Turismo Costa del Sol has revealed that between the months of June and September this year the number of visitors to the region was 5.2% higher than the same period last year.

This means that more than seven million holidaymakers chose the Costa del Sol this summer, which is the highest figure ever.

But if the thought of packed beaches leaves you cold, at least spare a thought for the region’s businesses – the tourism boost drove an 8% increase in employment, and meant that more than €7.15 BILLION was spent in the Costa del Sol over the summer period.

Additional stats from the tourist board show that the number of overnight stays in the summer of 2017 increased by 2.36%, while airport arrivals were also up, by 1.6% on last year.

This data has prompted tourism boss Elias Bendodo to call 2017 “the best summer in the Costa del Sol’s history”, with much of this surge down to the British, Scandinavian and German holidaymakers who faithfully return with full pockets year after year. Indeed, British visitor numbers this summer were 7% higher than last year, AEHCOS said.

Looking ahead to the traditionally slower winter, data from Málaga airport bookings suggests that 12% more arrivals are expected between the coming November – January period than over the same period last year.