How was Easter for the hospitality sector in Costa del Sol?

Those in hospitality were dreading the worst this Easter across Andalucia but ended up describing it as “good” overall, with strong performances on the coast and solid airport traffic helping offset challenges in Malaga caused by the high-speed rail disconnection. Baggage handling strikes, the high-speed rail link cut for works, the new EES process causing delays at Malaga airport, when all the headlines had pointed to a disaster for Semana Santa 2026.

Javier Frutos, president of the Federación Andaluza de Hostelería, delivered the positive assessment on Monday, April 6. He said that general results managed to hold up well, crediting strong coastal demand and busy airports for supporting visitor numbers even when high-speed train services to Malaga faced interruptions.

Tourist spending is still cautious with rising costs

Operators observed that visitor spending stayed more conservative than in previous years. Frutos linked this moderation directly to higher prices, particularly for diesel, which rose sharply because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Despite initial forecasts that appeared cautious, last-minute bookings helped the season recover momentum in its final stretch. Andalucian businesses ultimately delivered a positive verdict on the Easter period, which exceeded early expectations in many areas.

Malaga adapts to high-speed rail fail

In Malaga City, specifically, where industry estimates had projected losses of up to €1.3 billion due to the AVE outage, Spanish holidaymakers found alternative ways to reach the province. Frutos acknowledged that people actively sought other transport options, yet he stressed that the rail disruption still created difficulties for the destination.

Congress and events tourism appears more affected, with some organisers reporting drops of up to 20 per cent in visitor numbers. Even so, the broader hospitality sector in the province avoided the worst-case scenarios many had feared before the celebrations began.

Tourism figures show continued growth

Andalucia had welcomed 784,734 international tourists in February, making it a 1.07 per cent increase compared with the same month the previous year. Spending by these visitors reached over a billion euros, representing a healthy 5.15 percent rise. The final figures are not yet in for March, but are expected to maintain the same continued growth.

Strong airport figures and coastal demand proved decisive in delivering an encouraging Easter week for hotels, restaurants and bars across the region. While Malaga continues to push for a fast resolution to its high-speed rail connection, the ability of visitors to adapt through other routes helped limit the overall impact.

Frutos and fellow operators now look ahead with measured optimism, recognising both the resilience shown during this key tourism period and the need to address infrastructure challenges to guarantee future growth in one of Spain’s most popular destinations.