Marbella seeks to secure luxury-loving Arab tourists all year round

Marbella is one of Europe's favorite destinations for high-income Arab tourists, yet for decades their visits have been confined to the summer months. Breaking this seasonality is the main goal set by the Marbella City Council, which has traveled to Dubai to participate in the Arabian Travel Market, a Middle Eastern tourism fair where the coastal city is positioned as one of the most demanded destinations. "They are traveling to the town not only in summer, as was traditional, which shows that the promotional activity we have been developing for some time is resonating and new opportunities are opening up for them to come to our municipality not only in the summer season," stated Mayor Ángeles Muñoz, who was present in the Emirates along with the local delegation to focus on various promotional activities.

Thus, today marks the end of this event that has set a busy agenda for the city's stand, which was located at the beginning of the fair at its own counter, next to Andalusian Tourism, within the Turespaña booth. "We have attended more than 80 appointments with travel agents, tour operators, airlines, and journalists to convey the latest news in the sector, including the reopening of prominent hotel establishments," detailed the mayor, who also highlighted that during these days the town's top-level gastronomic offerings, as well as its commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and technological innovation, were showcased at the most important tourism fair in the Middle East.

"We must emphasize that our city is the best place to visit, live, and invest," pointed out Muñoz, who stressed that the City Council "will continue to strengthen our promotion, emphasizing that Marbella is a destination open 365 days a year, where excellence remains intact."

This edition of the Arabian Travel Market focuses on innovation and growth in the global tourism sector, with the presence of 2,600 exhibitors and the participation of more than 47,000 professionals from 161 different countries.

Profile of the Arab tourist

Five-star hotels, luxury shops, and exclusive services that Marbella offers are the main attractions for the public from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. The profile of the Arab tourist arriving in Marbella has high purchasing power and is a demanding visitor who seeks very high-level experiences in fashion, boats, gastronomy, leisure, or automobiles. Many of these source countries have been loyal to the coastal city, and after the pandemic hiatus, they have been returning to their traditional vacation destination. Promotion in this market, through the Spanish Luxury Association, has enhanced their return to Marbella as well as gradually traveling in other months beyond summer.

In this edition of the Arabian Travel Market, another sector has stood out in terms of the interest shown by the public: weddings. "We were surprised that people from different parts of Asia, like India, for example, contact us to inquire about our city as a destination for celebrating marriages. It's an area we are going to consider," highlighted Laura De Arce, Marbella's Director of Tourism.