Parking at a discount in the old town of Marbella

Accessing the old town of Marbella by car has been a major issue for drivers for years and, indirectly, for the local businesses in the area. This is particularly true during peak tourist seasons like Christmas, summer, or Easter, but also during the low season. Finding affordable parking in the downtown area of Marbella often requires patience and circling around many streets of the area. The difficulties in finding parking, coupled with the exorbitant prices of privately operated parking lots near the old town and a public transportation system that, although free, often fails to be functional for users, result in many residents and tourists opting to shop at the large commercial centers of the municipality where parking is assured and free. In an attempt to reverse this situation and respond to the frequent protests by the merchant associations of the old town, the government is looking for solutions which, not always with the desired success, facilitate access to parking to attract residents to the downtown area. The latest initiative, presented yesterday by the government team, has been to renew a collaboration agreement with a company that manages parking lots located in the old town. This will allow vehicles to be parked from 1.99 euros for 12 hours, depending on the parking used. Drivers who have Multipass vouchers, which can be purchased until September 30, will be able to leave their vehicles for 12 hours at a cost of 1.99 euros in the parking lot of the Marbella Center shopping mall, on the seafront; at 2.79 euros in the parking lot located at the Terrazas de Marbella; and at 2.99 euros in the facilities of the Central Market. The agreement also includes, as a novelty, a 30 percent discount on the charging of electric vehicles until December 31. The initiative of the Multipass vouchers "aims to allow people who come to the town center to do their shopping peacefully, also take the opportunity to eat or carry out personal matters," says José María Fayos, the regional director of the company managing the parking lots participating in the campaign. "For practically half of what an hour of parking costs, these vouchers can be purchased," adds Fayos about a campaign that has been promoted by the City Council and the parking management company along with the Plataforma de Comerciantes y Hosteleros de Marbella association. The agreement "will facilitate parking for citizens, tourists, and merchants and will promote shopping and consumption in local dining," assures Félix Romero, the councilor for Traffic. The City Council has promoted similar parking campaigns in recent years and is finalizing a regulated parking ordinance aimed at increasing the turnover of parking areas.