Costa del Sol tourism up 3.5% in 2011

According to a report released by the local Tourist Board to coincide with the 32^nd edition of the FITUR International Tourism Fair taking place in Madrid this week, despite the recession a total of 9.1 million holidaymakers visited the Costa del Sol in 2011, up by 3.5% compared with 2010. The average vacation length, however, was down from 13 days to nine, while the average spend also dropped – although only very slightly – from €800 to €760.

Tourism is Málaga’s principal industry, last year representing more than 13% of the province’s GDP which amounted to €8,000 million.