By Oliver McIntyre
TOURISM chiefs are expecting another record year on the Costa del Sol, forecasting a hefty 12% increase in arrivals this summer, due in part to a boost in bookings because of terrorism fears in competing destinations such as Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey.
Already this winter, from November to March, figures increased by nearly 12% or more for arrivals, hotel guests and overnight stays, according to data provided this week by Elías Bendodo, president of the Diputación de Málaga and its tourism promotion company Turismo Costa del Sol.
More than two million travellers arrived at Málaga airport, a low-season record and up 14.8% from the same period a year ago. The number of hotel guests was up 11.7% to 1.37 million, while overnight stays jumped by 12.3% to 3.08 million. Overnight stays by foreign visitors showed particularly strong growth, surging by 17.6%.
