Costa maintains visitor numbers but loses revenues
Foreigners save tourism year as domestic arrivals tumble

arrivals were up 3.1 per cent to 5.5 million

MÁLAGA province attracted the same number of tourists last year as in 2011, but they stayed less time and spent less money, according to figures presented by the Costa del Sol Tourism Board last week.

Málaga welcomed 9.15 million tourists last year, up a slight 0.1 per cent from 2011, but brought in three per cent less revenue, at 6.52 billion euros (down 200 million from the previous year).

In terms of visitor numbers, a solid increase in foreign arrivals made up for a decline in domestic tourists. The province was visited by 5.5 million foreign travellers, up 3.1 per cent compared to 2011. In contrast, the number of Spanish tourists fell by four per cent, to 3.6 million.

Domestic tourists not only arrived in smaller numbers but also spent less, with an average trip budget of 524 euros, compared to 572 euros in 2011. Overall they spent 1.89 billion euros in 2012, down from 2.17 billion euros the year before. Foreign tourists spent a total of 4.63 billon euros (pending final December figures), up from 4.55 billion euros en 2011.