The Costa del Sol has enjoyed another highly successful summer season, with the latest tourism figures highlighting the continued strength and international appeal of southern Spain’s most famous coastline.
Málaga province closed August 2026 with an impressive hotel occupancy rate of 92.85%, slightly ahead of the 92.15% recorded during August 2025. International visitors continued to play a major role, accounting for approximately 60.5% of hotel guests during the month.
The strong summer follows an equally positive start to the year. During the first seven months of 2026, tourist accommodation across the Costa del Sol welcomed approximately 4.82 million visitors, representing an increase of 3.9% compared with the same period in 2025.
Perhaps even more encouraging was the increase in the amount of time visitors spent in the region. Overnight stays reached approximately 18.4 million between January and July, an increase of 6.3% year-on-year, suggesting that visitors are not only continuing to choose the Costa del Sol, but are also staying for longer.
Both domestic and international tourism contributed to the growth. International visitors exceeded 3.19 million, while overnight stays by overseas guests surpassed 14 million during the first seven months of the year.
Málaga Leads Tourism in Andalucía
The wider Andalusian tourism market has also performed strongly.
More than 10.8 million tourists visited Andalucía between April and June 2026, an increase of 6.7% compared with the same period last year. Málaga was the region’s leading province, attracting 28.4% of all visitors to Andalucía during the quarter.
Tourist spending is also moving in the right direction. Average daily expenditure across Andalucía increased by 1.9% year-on-year to €87.87 per visitor, while tourists arriving from outside Spain and the European Union spent considerably more, averaging €114.03 per day.
Visitor satisfaction remains exceptionally high, with tourists awarding Andalucía an average rating of 9.2 out of 10.
A Destination With Increasing Year-Round Appeal
While July and August remain important months for the Costa del Sol, one of the most positive developments for the region is its increasingly year-round tourism market.
The combination of more than 300 days of sunshine, international schools, golf courses, beaches, restaurants and improving infrastructure has helped areas including Marbella, Estepona, Benahavís, Sotogrande and Mijas develop beyond their traditional image as purely summer destinations.
The region’s growing international resident population, together with continued demand from European and international visitors, means restaurants, beach clubs, golf resorts and leisure facilities increasingly benefit from activity throughout spring, autumn and winter.
This strengthening year-round economy is particularly important for the Costa del Sol property market. International buyers are increasingly looking at the region not simply as somewhere to own a holiday home, but as a destination where they can spend significantly longer periods of the year or establish a permanent base.
Positive Outlook for the Costa del Sol Property Market
For property owners and investors, continued tourism growth provides another positive indicator for the region.
Strong visitor numbers support demand for quality accommodation while continued investment in luxury hotels, branded residences, restaurants, golf resorts and infrastructure further enhances the Costa del Sol’s international profile.
Marbella and its surrounding areas remain at the centre of this transformation, attracting buyers looking for new and contemporary homes in established lifestyle destinations.
With summer 2026 delivering another strong set of tourism figures and the traditional season continuing to extend into spring and autumn, the Costa del Sol enters the final months of the year with considerable momentum.
Jason Callow Homes specialises in new and off-plan properties across Marbella and the Costa del Sol, including luxury apartments, villas and branded residences in some of southern Spain’s most sought-after locations.
