28-F Long Weekend: Málaga Hopes to Improve Hotel Occupancy in 2024 Despite the Rain

The Association of Hotel Entrepreneurs of the Costa del Sol (Aehcos) anticipates an occupancy rate of 72.84% during the Andalusia Day long weekend, three points higher than that recorded last year, despite the threat posed by the arrival of a new DANA. The fact that the additional holiday coincides with a Friday will allow for an "extended weekend" and improve the provincial record of 69.18% from these same dates in 2024.

Carnival Dates

Nevertheless, the heads of the hotel association are cautious with these forecasts. They emphasize that the figures could indeed vary depending on adverse weather conditions. This Friday, widespread rainfall is expected throughout the province, as well as throughout the whole weekend. In fact, occupancy rates for rural accommodations have dropped by five points over the last few days, as the weekend approaches and numerous Carnival celebrations in towns that had already announced them are postponed.

Weather

An additional incentive for this February 28th was the coincidence of this holiday with the days leading up to the start of Lent. Hoteliers recall that a year ago this celebration in Andalusia fell on a Wednesday, so despite the White Week, it did not generate as much visitor flow as on this occasion.

"The final reality of the long weekend will depend on the weather and last-minute bookings that will result from the final data," states the Executive Committee of Aehcos in a statement. Additionally, by municipalities, they again highlight the outstanding figures that the eastern Malaga coast achieves in the middle of winter, where the Frigiliana-Torrox destination is expected to close these days with a 97% average occupancy.

View of one of the terraces in the historic center of Frigiliana. / Frigiliana Town Hall

Other Municipalities

They will be followed by Nerja, Fuengirola, and Benalmádena, with around 90%. And Marbella will have an occupancy rate of more than 82%. "These numbers will be influenced by the evolution of weather forecasts, which are not very promising, so we must be aware of possible cancellations, on the negative side, or last-minute bookings, on the positive side," concludes this tourism industry association.