Costa del Sol warning: Tourism chiefs demand urgent transport plan

The Costa del Sol’s tourism leaders have demanded urgent government action to prevent Malaga losing visitors after the suspension of high-speed rail services to Madrid.

Francisco Salado, president of Malaga’s Provincial Council and Turismo Costa del Sol, made the demand at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London on Tuesday, November 3, warning that the disruption threatens tourism and business across the province.

Malaga demands alternative transport

Salado called on the Spanish Government to introduce an emergency transport plan covering Andalucia, with additional flights and coach services to compensate for the loss of direct high-speed rail connections.

Airlines have already started adding capacity between Malaga and Madrid. Volotea’s additional flights between Madrid and Andalucia and Ryanair’s 50,000 extra seats are among the measures announced, but Salado believes the Government must coordinate with operators and help provide further alternatives.

He warned that the consequences extend beyond holidaymakers, affecting businesses and commercial relationships between Malaga and the Spanish capital. The railway interruption followed the October 28 accident near Urda in Toledo, which left the Madrid-Andalucia high-speed corridor closed. Adif’s latest railway service updates confirm that high-speed traffic remains suspended.

British visitors worth €4.6 billion

The warning comes as tourism officials work to protect the Costa del Sol’s most valuable international visitor market. Figures presented at the London exhibition forecast more than 3.3 million British tourists visiting the destination during 2026, generating an estimated €4.629 billion for the local economy.

However, there is concern about future flight capacity. Between October 2026 and March 2027, airlines are expected to provide 1,296,799 seats from the UK, representing a 5 per cent reduction compared with the previous year.

Hotel figures have been encouraging, with 904,241 British guests recorded during the first nine months of 2026, an increase of 3.6 per cent. Their overnight stays also rose by 3.1 per cent to almost 4.5 million.

Tourism chiefs target longer stays

Turismo Costa del Sol is using its presence at WTM to attract British visitors who stay longer and spend more, while encouraging holidays outside the traditional summer season.

Salado warned that losing transport connections could undermine those efforts, calling for a government response before further damage is done to the province’s tourism economy.