Malaga Bets Big On These New Tourists: They’re Spending Two And A Half Times More Than The Brits

Malaga is astir to move moreover much heads successful nan tourism world.

On October 13, nan Andalusian metropolis will invited its first nonstop charter formation from Seoul, South Korea’s capital. The formation is kicking disconnected what could beryllium a superior economical roar for nan full Costa del Sol, not conscionable for Malaga city.

Three charters are scheduled successful October, and much are already planned for November. This isn’t conscionable astir filling seats. In fact, it’s astir chasing travellers and visitors who walk more, enactment longer, and expect thing smarter than nan accustomed beach-and-sun circuit.

High-spending visitors successful Malaga

City tourism officials are not hiding: nan extremity is high-spending visitors. “Our promotional effort is progressively focused connected mean and long-haul flights,” says Jacobo Florido, Malaga’s tourism councillor. The strategy was connected show astatine FITUR, Spain’s monolithic tourism fair: value complete amount is nan sanction of this caller game.

Flights to Seoul correspond a qualitative leap towards Asian and oceanic markets, which Florido believes clasp unrealised imaginable for Malaga.

Korean visitors walk much than 2 and a half Brits

And nan numbers backmost that up. According to Turespaña, Korean visitors spent astir €3,098 per travel successful 2024, averaging €405 per day. Compare that pinch nan Andalusian average, which hovered astatine astir €85-€90, and nan British tourer regular walk of astir €165. A Korean visitant is worthy astir 2 and a half British visitors successful regular walk alone.

Beyond nan money, there’s nan stay-length. Korean visitors thin to linger, bouncing betwixt Andalusia’s gems: Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba and Cadiz, not conscionable Malaga. This multi-city itinerary means, of course, much hotels, much meals, much everything.

Malaga is fresh for nan ‘new game’

Malaga expects astir €1.27 cardinal conscionable successful nonstop tourer walk successful nan metropolis from these caller Seoul connections, counting lodging, food, tours, positive indirect economical spillovers successful shops, transport, and services.

Hotels connected nan Costa del Sol are fresh for this upgrade. The visitors will beryllium booked into 4- and 5-star places, which suits nan demographic. They want a batch of comfort, value and unique section experiences. Florido notes hotels were pre-screened to meet each these standards, luxury pinch authenticity.

Next roar phase?

If each goes well, this could footwear disconnected a lasting pipeline betwixt Asia and Andalusia, turning Malaga from a summertime hotspot to a year-round destination. There’s risk, of course: seasonal demand, hose economics, and really good Malaga lives up to expectations. But for now, nan metropolis is riding precocious connected optimism.

So, each successful all, much flights, much faces, much rate successful nan till: Malaga mightiness conscionable beryllium entering its adjacent roar phase.