Marbella 'deserted' as tourists stay away from Costa del Sol hotspot
Marbella, a renowned holiday destination in southern Spain, has seen a decline in visitor numbers as tourists cut back on lavish holidays, with one nationality noticeably absent.
Long ingrained in the British public's mind, Marbella transformed from a humble fishing village on the outskirts of Malaga into a bustling tourist hotspot throughout the 20th century.
The Marbella Club Hotel, founded by Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg in 1954, put the location on the map as a must-visit spot for Europe's elite. In recent years, it has become synonymous with celebrity glamour and extravagance, attracting bronzed Instagrammers in droves for Champagne spray parties.
Despite remaining a favourite among Brits and Love Island contestants alike, it appears that some are beginning to fall out of love with 'Marbs'. This includes one unfortunate holidaymaker who was denied entry to Towie star Elliott Wright's restaurant due to his footwear.
This summer saw a drop in tourist numbers on the Costa del Sol, marking the first decrease since the pandemic began. The downturn has been particularly noticeable in Marbella, where Spanish tourist numbers fell by 34% in June, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), reports the Mirror.
In July, the city welcomed 68,630 visitors, which is 8,201 fewer than in 2024.
The decline in visitors is wreaking havoc across Marbella's hospitality sector, with business owners left wondering how they'll survive financially.
"There are days when we feel like we're not holding our heads in our hands from so much work, and others when the restaurant is empty. It's as if people are more restrained when it comes to going out," Yolanda, a waitress at one of the downtown hospitality establishments, told Sur.
A retail worker in Marbella informed the publication that Spanish visitors to the resort are arriving with tighter budgets. They attributed this to "how expensive accommodation has become" alongside inadequate public transport links between Malaga and Marbella - which are situated 40 miles apart along the coastline - for the 10% drop in tourist numbers overall this summer.
Despite falling visitor numbers, Marbella is hardly experiencing a ghost town atmosphere. Hotel occupancy has climbed to 80.08 percent, with guests staying an average of 3.95 nights - the highest figure recorded since 2016.
Laura De Arce, director of tourism for the City Council, commented: "The city continues to attract a traveler profile that values excellence, exclusivity, and a differentiated offering. This not only translates into high occupancy rates but also into strong profitability, confirming Marbella's leadership in the premium tourism sector in the Mediterranean."
Earlier this week, readers of the Mirror voiced their opinions on Spain as a holiday spot and expressed concerns about visiting due to recent high-profile protests against overtourism.
"The message we are receiving loud and clear from locals, especially in the islands and where we usually visit in Andalucia, is that we should stay away and are not welcome," one gentleman informed us.
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