HOTSPOT: Sevilla saw the biggest spike in overnight stays

AUGUST was best month in history in terms of tourism numbers in Andalucia.

According to new data, the summer month exceeded all expectations this year after there were 7.6 million more overnight stays in hotels compared to last year, a 4.9% growth.

The number staying in other accommodation reached 2.3 million, an increase of 4.4% on August 2018.

Junta vice president Juan Marin said it was ‘a historic month for tourism in Andalucia.’

Seven provinces stood out from the pack but it was the capital Sevilla which enjoyed the most growth, with a 9.9% year-on-year increase in overnight stays.

It was followed by Cordoba, which increased by 7.5%, Granada (6.7%), Huelva (5.9%), Cadiz (4.8%), Malaga (4.4%) and Almeria (1.9%).

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Employment data has also been positive during August as 49,400 jobs were registered in Andalucia hotels, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%.

The forecast for the month of September predicts a more than 4% bump in overnight stays year-on-year.

This will mean Spain’s southernmost region will have enjoyed 26.3 million hotel stays this summer, 4% more than last summer, and 1% more than expected.

The positive results are mostly thanks to a surge in domestic tourists heading to the costa from inland.

There was also a slight rise in international visitors, despite the fierce competition from cheaper alternatives in the Mediterranean.