Tourism numbers on the Costa del Sol have fallen on average for the first time since the Covid pandemic, new figures show.
While it’s bad news for hoteliers and businesses that rely on the industry, some locals have admitted to feeling ‘relieved’ and ‘happy’.
Dozens took to social media to say they hope even fewer tourists come next year so there is ‘less traffic’ and that ‘the housing market explodes and prices finally fall.’
It follows a series of nationwide protests against overtourism over the past couple of years, including in Malaga – although experts have pointed to global warming and high prices as the main culprits.
READ MORE: Alicante locals protest against ‘overtourism’ and tell holidaymakers to ‘go home’
For the first time since the pandemic, both the number of visitors and the number of overnight stays have fallen along the Costa del Sol.
While foreign tourists remain the driving force of the industry, there are worrying slumps.
The number of US visitors, for example, grew by 22% in 2024, but have actually decreased in 2025.
Elsewhere, the number of Swedes visiting the Costa del Sol has plummeted by 17% year-on-year, whole Polish holidaymakers dropped by 6%, reports 101tv.
However, main markets like the Brits remain bouyant.
Javier Hernandez, Executive Vice President of Aehcos, the Costa del Sol Hotel Business Association, sought to blame global warming and geopolitical situation.
He told 101TV: ‘With increasingly warmer summers in countries such as Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, many tourists are choosing to stay in their countries or choose closer destinations, thus reducing their presence in Spain…
‘We closed June with 88% hotel occupancy, 0.27 points above last year, but the forecasts for July and August are lower than last year.
‘It’s not normal for June to have higher occupancy than July, which reflects a change in tourist behaviour and a deseasonalisation of the destination.’
While the international market is remaining more stable, it is actually the domestic market that is suffering the most.
While the overall number of tourists grew on the Costa del Sol in January and February, momentum suddenly halted in March, April and May due to Spaniards cutting back on their holidays.
Hernandez said the figures show an average drop of 1.6% in occupancy compared to last year.
Between January and May, the number of people in tourist accommodation fell by 4% and overnight stays by 3.8%, according to Turismo Costa del Sol.
The biggest dip came from Spanish tourists, with a 10.6% drop in arrivals and an 11.4% drop in nights booked.
Some locals said the news of falling tourist numbers was ‘good’, with one commenting on a news report: ‘Malaga has become a theme park for foreigners, they should reduce tourism even further.’
Another said: ‘I’m sooooo happy!’, adding that tourism had been ‘raising prices so much and lowering the quality of absolutely everything.’
Read more Spain news at the Spanish Eye.
