It might seem obvious to some observers that the Costa del Sol should be regarded as one of the must-visit parts of Spain – and it appears that plenty agree. 

As SUR in English has reported, a monthly report has been issued by the Tourist Board – drawing upon data from the National Institute of Statistics – suggesting that the region is the third most popular coastal destination in the country. 

Very few parts of Spain have the lure of the Costa del Sol 

So, just how tempting is the “Sun Coast” for those visiting from far afield? The recent SUR in English report made this clear, stating that between January and the end of September 2022, the only two parts of the country to record a greater number of visitors staying in hotels, were Barcelona and Palma (de Mallorca). 

It was a similar story as far as length of stay was concerned, with the Costa del Sol coming behind only Mallorca and Tenerife. 

Over the nine months, the Costa del Sol received 4,541,789 visitors, which was just 2.5% shy of the number recorded for 2019 – a record year prior to the onset of the coronavirus crisis in Europe. 

Those visitors booked 15,055,844 overnight hotel stays, which was 3.3% below the figure recorded for the same period three years earlier. It was, though, still a higher figure than that managed by such famous destinations as Barcelona, the Costa Blanca, Costa Dorada, and Costa Brava. 

Increasing numbers of visitors from key international markets 

While Francisco Salado – president of the tourist board for the Costa del Sol – said a significant rise had recently been seen in the numbers of tourists from other parts of Spain, he also drew attention to growing numbers of visitors from outside the country. 

He said 2022 had seen 8.2% more Dutch visitors, for example, and 6.2% more Americans, compared to 2019. The visitor numbers from Denmark, Poland, and Portugal had also gone up. 

However, Mr Salado also urged the tourist authorities not to drop their guard, given that some important source markets – such as the UK and Germany – had yet to see such impressive recoveries in their visitor numbers following the COVID-19 crisis. 

Could now be the time to remind yourself of the charms of the Costa del Sol? 

Are you among the people who used to visit the Costa del Sol prior to the coronavirus pandemic, only to have not returned since the relaxation of travel restrictions? Or perhaps you are a relative newcomer to the dining, sporting, and leisure opportunities that this region serves up in abundance? 

Whatever the situation, here at Simply Shuttles, we can help make your next visit to the region so much quicker and easier. We offer great-value Málaga Airport transfers to Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, Puerto Banús, Estepona, and other key parts of the “Sun Coast”. So, please don’t hesitate to call +34 951 279 117 to find out more and to book your own private transfer.