Holidaymakers abandon Marbella as waiters left ‘with heads in their hands'
Visitor numbers are down in Marbella as holidaymakers cut back on expensive breaks, with tourists from one country in particular staying away.
Marbella, in the south of Spain, has long been etched into the public consciousness of Brits. Over the course of the 20th century, the once small fishing village on the outskirts of Malaga was transformed into a bustling holiday hotspot.
Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg founded the Marbella Club Hotel in 1954, marking the location out as a to-visit destination for Europe's elite. In more recent years, it has become a byword for celeb glamour and excess, with tanned Instagrammers arriving en masse for Champagne spray parties.
While the destination remains a firm favourite of Brits in general and Love Island contestants in particular, it seems that some people have started to fall out of love with Marbs. And not just one holidaymaker who was blocked from the restaurant of Towie star Elliott Wright because of his shoes.
Tourist numbers have declined on the Costa del Sol this summer, marking the first time since the pandemic that numbers have dropped. The downward dip has been felt particularly keenly in Marbella, where there was a 34% drop in Spanish tourists in June, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE). In July, 68,630 people came to visit the city, which is 8,201 fewer than in 2024.
The fall in visitors is causing misery through the hospitality sector in Marbella, with business owners wondering how they're going to make ends meet.
"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 retailer worker in Marbella told the publication that those Spaniards who are visiting the destination have less money to spend. They blamed "how expensive accommodation has become" as well as a lack of public transport between Malaga and Marbella - which sit 40 miles from one another on the coast - for the 10% dip in tourist numbers overall this summer.
While visitor numbers are down, Marbella is far from feeling empty. Hotel occupancy has reached 80.08 percent, with an average stay of 3.95 nights - the highest since 2016. Laura De Arce, director of tourism for the City Council, said: "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, Mirror readers shared their thoughts on Spain as a holiday destination and reservations they had about spending time there following high-profile overtourism protests.
"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 man told us.
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Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHAT'S not to love about Gibraltar? It's has average highs of 28C, it's just three hours from the UK, everyone speaks English and you can pay in pounds. But one half Gibraltarian, half English woman has revealed that Brits make plenty of mistakes when visiting the island. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Gibraltar is a popular destination that sits on the peninsular of Spain's southern coast Credit: Alamy 10 Adele's grandparents live in Gibraltar and she visits at least twice a year Credit: Adele Cooke Win one of 8 incredible holidays to the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here Sun writer Adele Cooke visits Gibraltar to see her family at least twice a year, and here she shares with us all her secret viewpoints, favourite local haunts and mistakes to avoid when visiting 'Gib'. Adele told us: "My mum is Gibraltarian, and all her family all live there - the short story is that the family moved from Genoa in Italy. "A lot of families do that and actually Michelle Keegan's family did the same - her grandma used to live opposite mine." Summer highs Adele's first piece of advice is when's best to visit, she told us: "Going in winter is a big no-no because a lot of the things to do in Gibraltar is outside. "If you go in the winter, you'll get highs of 12C. But it's not like being in Madeira where you'll get some like winter sun - it's properly cold. She's noticed that first-time visitors often aren't aware that the destination has a micro-climate because of the Levanter cloud. The Levanter cloud forms over the Rock of Gibraltar in certain conditions and will make the temperature colder than neighbouring areas in Spain. She said : "Personally, I go every May and September. The end of May is warm enough to go to the beach. "And then the start of September, the schools have gone back so there aren't lots of kids on the beach, and the flights are cheaper. "The flights this summer are expensive so if you do go then, you have to book quite far in advance." Join cheeky monkeys for cliff walks, caves and tapas in historic Gibraltar 10 Adele and her family know all the best spots from restaurants to cafes Credit: Adele Cooke 10 Adele suggested going in May or September - but avoid Gibraltar National Day Credit: Adele Cooke 10 Ocean Village is a great place for getting a bite to eat - and cheap cocktails Credit: Alamy Adele said she can generally get flights back from £80, but there are certain times of the year where the prices will be at an all-time high. She said: "Flights get really expensive around Gibraltar National Day which is in September. "It's a full weekend of events, there's lots of food, and they have firework displays, and everyone wears red and white. It's a day to celebrate being part of Britain." "Another time to be aware of is around Easter because it's a Catholic nation, so a lot of Gibraltarians will go back for that." Eating out Adele said one of the best places for an evening tipple is in the marina: "For drinks, I would go to Ocean Village which is a big complex at the marina. "In there is a casino, they've got an Irish pub for watching sports, Pizza Express, Wagamama, everything you need. "There's plenty of offers too, lots of places have happy hour with £6 cocktails and you can get coffees from £2. "If you don't like crowds and you want more of a quiet and relaxed evening, I'd go to Queensway Quay. It's another marina and it's the upmarket one. "It's really lovely if you want to go and look at the boats and have some drinks as it's usually less busy. "One place that's a hidden gem, is a restaurant at the university called Bistro Point. It's got a great view, you can sit outside and they do a great brunch." Another spot she recommends for anyone looking for quality seafood is the Jumpers Wheel Restaurant. It might not look like much on the outside, but Adele told us it's a great place to enjoy catch of the day, calamari, swordfish and octopus. 10 For a tasty brunch and incredible views head to Bistro Point Credit: 10 The Lavanter cloud can affect the temperature in Gibraltar Credit: Alamy Saving pennies Remember going on holiday with your mates and dread buying a round? Well there's none of that here. Adele told us: "I've bought a bottle of wine and a beer and it's come to just £17 in a bar before - a breakfast for a family of 10 can come to just £35, it's a very cheap place. "The food in Gibraltar as a whole is cheap and cheerful, you get big portions - I'd say it's Wetherspoons style." The good news for Brits is that Gibraltar does have its own currency, does take British pound too. Holiday hotels As for where to stay, Adele said: "Plenty of people book into the Holiday Inn as it's in a great location and very affordable, what most don't realise is it's beach on one side and next to one of Gibraltar's main cemeteries on the other. "If you do stay there, ask for a room on the rock side rather than a room on the cemetery side." To stay in central Gibraltar, Adele recommended the Sunborn Gibraltar resort which is right in Ocean Village - rooms start at £175 per night. Another great pick for visitors is The Eliott Hotel which has a rooftop pool, and the Rock Hotel which has recently been renovated. 10 Head to the sweeping Eastern Beach in Gibraltar for blue seas and lots of sand Credit: Google maps All the attractions If you head to Tripadvisor currently, one of the most highly recommended beaches in Gibraltar is Catalan Bay, but it's currently undergoing lots of construction work. Adele said: "There's lots of diggers out on that beach because they're reclaiming some land from the sea - so don't go there for the moment. "Instead, go to Eastern Beach, it's a great spot because you get more sun for longer." The reason the Eastern Beach stays sunnier for longer is because the Rock's shadow can block sunlight on other beaches. Sandy Bay is another popular beach but it can get windy. Other attractions around Gibraltar include the Spirit of the Rock, which is the only distillery in the old town - you can take the tour and have a tasting for £25. If you're looking to catch up with the news, don't try hunting for a newspaper as you won't find one. Adele explained: "Post-Brexit, you can't get them in Gibraltar, but you can buy them in Spain." 10 Book a tour in advance to go and see the dolphins Credit: Adele Cooke Tourist traps Like most places that you go, be mindful of the tourist traps. In the town centre, there will be lots of tour operators trying to sell tourists dolphin tours around Gibraltar. Adele said that for anyone wanting to head on a tour, have a look online first and book there instead. Everyone going with the few tour operators selling tickets in the square will then get into a crowded boat so when there's a dolphin, you're less likely to see it. And if you fancy heading up the Rock, do not drive yourself. She said: "Unless you're going to Spain, I wouldn't hire a car because it's quite sketchy to drive in Gibraltar. "Going up the Rock is very narrow, and on one side is just a cliff. Plus there are monkeys roaming around too. "Instead, use the great bus system, as it's very cheap." For more breaks, check out these European holidays that are cheaper than a UK train fare – with £2 prosecco and stunning beaches. Or take a look at the cheeky 48-hour holidays to Europe's best cities, beach towns and islands this summer from £167.
