Record breaking tourist figures to bring €6bn to Malaga province this summer

The Costa del Sol is poised for a historic tourist season this summer with an expected six million visitors to the region, a rise of 11 per cent on the same period last year. Elías Bendodo, president of the Costa del Sol Tourism Authority, proudly presented the figures at a press conference on Monday following a steep incline in tourism over the past year.

"We are heading into this summer with optimism. After a winter with 12 per cent more visitors, we will be making history again." Bonded announced. "It will be the best summer ever for the Costa del Sol."

A record-breaking six million tourists will flow into the region to spend their summer holidays this year, up by 623,000 more visitors than the year before. The influx will bring an estimated 5.9 billion euros to the local economy between the months of June and September.

As temperatures continue to rise, the significant rise in activity is apparent all along the Costa del Sol. Restaurants, and chiringuitos are swarming with activity and the beaches are lined with sun beds and multi-coloured parasols, shading sun-seekers enjoying the summertime buzz of the famous Spanish Mediterranean coastline.

Tourists hail from a number of Northern European countries such as Norway, Sweden and Finland, as well as a recovering level of German tourists, which was down last year and grew by 11 per cent, 24 per cent more French visitors and a rise of 15 per cent in visitors from Belgium and the Netherlands. Newer markets are also surfacing this year, such as Poland, with an increase of 57 per cent, and Denmark, with a rise of 41 per cent in visitors. "In these markets we intend to intensify our marketing in the coming months" announced Bendodo, adding "the signals we are getting couldn't be better."

With regards to recent fears that the British tourist community will suffer in light of Brexit, Bendodo adamantly refuted the trend. So far, figures show that Brexit has not deterred would-be travellers as the region is expected to receive a 21 per cent increase in British tourists between now and September. "The Costa has always been the favoured destination for the British people, even before the European Union" Bendodo concluded. Adding, "I am very confident that this will continue to be the case."