A Swedish expat has revealed she seriously considered giving up her new life in Spain due to the high number of tourists.
The resident, named Eva, told COPE radio that she was drawn to Malaga province by the milder climate and the language, which she already spoke.
She settled in an apartment in Mijas, by the beach, but soon witnessed a dramatic surge in tourism.
Speaking to the La Linterna show, she said she considered selling up around 18 months ago after becoming overwhelmed.
‘There are many more people now, many more tourists,’ she said.
Although she acknowledges she too was once a tourist, she added: ‘I felt like I couldn’t take it any more.’
Post‑pandemic tourist numbers and the conversion of many homes into holiday lets and hotels intensified her unease.
‘What is happening to the city?’ she asked, but added that despite the frustrations, her love of the place and the life she has built kept her from moving back.
‘I feel I have a life here, I have many Spanish friends, and that’s why leaving was a bad idea,’ she said, insisting she is ‘happy and fulfilled’.
Eva noted a common pattern among fellow Swedes, claiming many relocate to Malaga around retirement age seeking relief from the cold and darkness of their homeland.
While they find warmth, sea, and a slower pace of life, they are also confronted by a destination under strain from tourism, she said.
