Cultural activities received 6.800 cruisers last Saturday in Malaga

The streets in the centre were yet again filled with jazz exhibitions, flamenco shows and classical music concerts in a new day of maximum tourist influx

After the success of April the 27th, the Tourist Board once again organised a new program of cultural activities in several streets of the city’s historical centre receiving over 6.800 cruisers and 2.000 crew members that arrived at the city on three cruise ships.

The aim of these organised events is that the visitors find their stroll through our city even more attractive and so that they can discover Malaga as a lively city, with shows specially designed for all the profiles of tourists. Saturday’s program took place between 10:00 and 12:30 in the Plaza de la Constitución, where a flamenco fusion show was carried out by the group Flamenkura; on Cister street, an exhibition of traditional jazz with guitar and piano; and on Caldereria street, the Murillo Quartet offered a concert of classical concert.

As the Culture, Tourism and Sport councillor, already explained at the time, these activities were carried out during the days of most influx of cruisers. With this, the Tourist Board hoped to achieve that the visitors fall in love with the city and consider organising a longer stay in the destination in the near future.

“The tourists don’t want to just settle for discovering the city’s patrimony, they need to live unforgettable experiences in the destination, knowing that the city that they’ll be arriving at is culturally alive and can offer all kinds of activities, which is why we organised this wide range of shows and events, to value the richness of our culture”, pointed out the councillor.

These activities also contributed to the promotion of the city’s culture. In fact, the events (dance shows, music, performances or wine and olive oil tastings) were carried out by local professional groups or students of these disciplines.

The Orange Festival in Coín

Last Sunday the 13th of may, the village of Coín held the XVI edition of the Orange Festival. Quite an attraction for the locals and the tourists that visit this town located in the province of Malaga

Municipio de Coín (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

, that yet another year participated in masses. Over five thousand people had a great time and participated in the tastings, different activities and samples of the festival, battling against the suffocating heat by grabbing plenty of drinks and searching for a shady spot in the park where the event took place.

The star product of the festival was obviously the orange, that was shared out amongst the participants in many different ways. In the morning, from very early, many people made their way to the San Agustin park to visit the many different food exhibitors that had almonds, cheese, bread or sweets, as well as traditional ceramic of the area or flowers. The participants were presented with refreshing orange juice which was very much appreciated due to the heat.

A total of 4.000 kilos of freshly squeezed oranges were served throughout the morning whilst enjoying several musical shows carried out by Pepi Fernandez’ dance academy and the ‘Old Rondalla Orchard’. Other activities took place throughout the day like the ‘solidarity shopping’ of the flea market organised as a fundraiser or the petition with signatures to oppose to the courthouse’s abolition. The 2012 Orange Award was also given out, that this year went to the artist Carmen Escalona for promoting the traditions of the area, as she has spent years making ceramics that gather the best traditional spirit of the village’s culture. Other awards went to the desserts elaborated with oranges. This festival is declared as Touristic interest and is traditionally attended by thousands of people.

The magazine that Ryanair hand out on their 96 routes will dedicate June to Malaga’s tourist offer

Vista de Málaga (Photo credit: Figuelo)

A journalist and a photographer of this magazine will be staying in Malaga from today until next Sunday with the aim to discover the main monumental sites of this destination

A journalist and a photographer from the ‘Let’s go magazine’, Ryanair’s monthly publication, will be staying in Malaga as from today, right through till next Sunday with the objective of writing a six-page article in the issue of the following month of June.

This magazine is given out regularly on the 96 routes that the company currently operate, so it’s estimated that it reaches more than six million passengers every month. Amongst its content, ‘Let’s go magazine’ dedicates a large space to the main tourist destinations all over the world, as well as other articles on fashion and lifestyle.

For this occasion, the Tourist Board of Malaga’s Town Hall has organised a wide program of activities so that both the journalist and the photographer can thoroughly explore the city’s wide tourist offer and its main cultural resources.

This way, this familiarisation trip includes a visit to the Botanical Garden of ‘La Concepción’, the monumental complex of the Alcazaba, the Roman Theatre and the Gibralfaro Castle, the Cathedral, the Picasso Museum and the painter’s house of birth, the Carmen Thyssen Museum, the Glass Museum or the Motor Museum. On the other hand, the program also includes a bicycle route from the historical centre of Malaga to the beaches of Pedregalejo.

The Culture, Tourism & Sport councillor, Damian Caneda, has emphasised the importance of this type of reports so that Malaga’s tourist offer gets the chance to be seen in the main markets all around the world. “These press and familiarisation trips are proving an enormous efficiency to promote our destination, so we want to keep on investing in these type of publications that have a great outcome for us”, he pointed out.

According to the journalist in charge of the report, the magazine is particularly interested in highlighting Malaga’s potential as one of the most important destinations for cultural and gastronomic tourism in the Mediterranean. Consequently, apart from the visits to the main monuments of the city, the Tourist Board’s promotional experts have also scheduled a visit to three of the main gastronomic areas of our destination.

This way, in ‘Muelle 1’, the port’s new shopping and leisure centre, the journalist will have the chance to interview the well-known chef Jose Carlos Garcia. They will also get to discover some of the most popular restaurants in Malaga’s historical centre and will be able to taste our famous ‘pescaito’ (typical and traditional fish dish) in one of Pedregalejo’s ‘chiringuitos’ (beach bars).

Finally, the program also includes a work meeting with Gloria Noblezas, manager of the hotel Husa Guadalmedina, establishment that will be collaborating with this visit and where the invited journalists will be staying; and a visit to the Room Mate Larios hotel.

This familiarisation trip, included in this year’s action plan of the Tourist Board, also coincides with the celebration of the Malaga Spanish Film Festival, so the journalists will also be able to enjoy one of the cultural activities with more touristic and cultural projection in the city of Malaga.

The popular Costa del Sol

Beaches in the Costa del Sol. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The popular Costa del Sol, considered one of the major tourist areas worldwide, is covering 160 kilometres of coastline in Malaga, southern Spain. Malaga city is situated in its centre, serving as the imaginary line between the eastern and the western Costa del Sol.

Bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, on the Costa del Sol the beaches are the main attraction. They are among the best in Europe, being annually awarded with the “Blue Flag” by the European Community. These distinctions are awarded based on environmental conditions, infrastructure, equipment, accessibility, etc. Besides its beaches, on the Costa del Sol the visitor can find many attractions for its monumental and cultural quality or impressive landscapes.

We can visit the province of Malaga at any time of year, but especially the Costa del Sol, which is guarded by a succession of mountains of considerable altitude, positively affecting its meteorology. One of the reasons that have made this stretch of coast a prime tourist destination is the mild Mediterranean climate. As the name suggests, the Costa del Sol is one of the best and sunniest climates in Spain, with over 300 sunny days and mild temperatures throughout the year.

But in addition to its beaches, tourists have more reasons to visit the Costa del Sol. Thanks to the diverse cultures that have passed through this land, every corner has historical and artistic values, archaeological sites, monuments, churches, museums.

In addition, visitors can enjoy an extensive agenda of culture and leisure whatever the time of year you visit the Costa del Sol. In the field of family entertainment can be found an amusement park, several water parks, zoos, aquariums, many sports facilities, hiking trails for outdoor sports, water sports, adventure, etc..

If you are looking for a place with night live, you will have trouble choosing in which area to stay. All coastal towns in this part of Malaga have their own nightlife district, with countless places to have a drink… or two. Boredom is banned in the Costa del Sol.

The sun and sea tourism deals better with the crisis

Former train station of Fuengirola, currently converted into a tourism information office. Fuengirola, Spain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The traditional holiday destinations, with Benalmadena in the head group, have firmly resisted the downfall of the crisis during these last three years. According to a brief presented yesterday by Exceltur, the most touristic points of the country, linked to the offer of sun and sea, have not only not decreased during this period, but they managed to close last year with an overall balance of growth, in both profitability and employment.

This brief, that analyses the evolution of the 105 top-quality municipalities in the industry, highlights the behaviour of Benalmadena, that increased its hotel occupation, between 2008 and 2011, in 2.3 points -between 73.2% and 75.5%- and in 11.6 points the income received per room, which means 5.6% more than in the average of the best areas of the coast.

The excellent result of Benalmadena, that is experiencing the eighth most steepest increase in the country, only behind destinations like Ibiza and Roses, stands out above other consolidated places like the Costa del Sol. Marbella, for example, settled the past three-year period with an increase of 0.3% in the profitability indicator, a figure way under average, but well compensated by the increase in the occupation chapter, of 3.4 points.

The descent of Fuengirola. The efficiency of the touristic aristocracy on the coast does not extend all over the territory, not even in the province, where the research detects downfalls. In the case of Torremolinos, with a 3.3% descent of income per room and, most of all, Fuengirola, that Exceltur has added to the rest of “looser” destinations, with a 10.3% descent in profitability and a loss of 4.6 points in general occupation.

The slump of these last aforementioned municipalities is mainly due, according to the breif, to the stagnation of their facilities, the town-planning congestion and the deliberate bet on a massive demand of a less spending capacity, that has been affected by the irruption of the crisis. In general terms, the strength shown by the destinations on the coast, in comparison to the urban ones, a lot more prim in their growth, considerably obeys the industry’s movements over the past few years, characterised by the monetary ups and downs and the recycling of the tourists that come from other latitudes. In this sense, Exceltur mentions the entrance of travellers as a result of the politic instability of the Mediterranean Arabic destinations. It also refers to the moderation of the offer as the core of the increase of income per room.

Malaga’s rise of 2011. Despite the predominance of the holiday destinations, the city tourism accumulates a balance that, in some cases, like Santander and Barcelona, leaves a positive mark. Malaga registers an accumulated descent of 7.4% in the rate per room and of 0.9 points regarding hotel occupation. In the last year, however, the destination has dishevelled up to the point of reaching a spectacular increase, 8.2% in income and 2.8% in employment. The highest increase in the whole country, together with Barcelona. Exceltur links the increase to the proximity of the places with demand of sun and sea and to the strength of the tourism of cruises; after all, Malaga has the advantage of not having to depend exclusively on the affluence of the national public, that has been rather more timid this year as a result of the country’s economic weakness.

The balance of 2011, included in the research, also reflects Benalmadena’s rise, once again, that over the last twelve months increased the profitability of its rooms by 17.7 points, with 2.2% more employment. It also refers to Fuengirola, on the other hand, that concludes the list of the country’s holiday destinations with a decline of 4.8 and 3.4%, respectively.

Exceltur’s barometer insists that the destinations with the best results over the last few years have been the ones who decided to renew part of their offer.

Costa del Sol sun and sea tourism deals better with the crisis

Exceltur Meeting

Benalmadena increases its income by 11%, according to Exceltur. Fuengirola, amongst those that are most descending

The traditional holiday destinations, with Benalmadena in the head group, have firmly resisted the downfall of the crisis during these last three years. According to a brief presented yesterday by Exceltur, the most touristic points of the country, linked to the offer of sun and sea, have not only not decreased during this period, but they managed to close last year with an overall balance of growth, in both profitability and employment.

This brief, that analyses the evolution of the 105 top-quality municipalities in the industry, highlights the behaviour of Benalmadena, that increased its hotel occupation, between 2008 and 2011, in 2.3 points -between 73.2% and 75.5%- and in 11.6 points the income received per room, which means 5.6% more than in the average of the best areas of the coast.

The excellent result of Benalmadena, that is experiencing the eighth most steepest increase in the country, only behind destinations like Ibiza and Roses, stands out above other consolidated places like the Costa del Sol. Marbella, for example, settled the past three-year period with an increase of 0.3% in the profitability indicator, a figure way under average, but well compensated by the increase in the occupation chapter, of 3.4 points.

The descent of Fuengirola. The efficiency of the touristic aristocracy on the coast does not extend all over the territory, not even in the province, where the research detects downfalls. In the case of Torremolinos, with a 3.3% descent of income per room and, most of all, Fuengirola, that Exceltur has added to the rest of “looser” destinations, with a 10.3% descent in profitability and a loss of 4.6 points in general occupation.

The slump of these last aforementioned municipalities is mainly due, according to the breif, to the stagnation of their facilities, the town-planning congestion and the deliberate bet on a massive demand of a less spending capacity, that has been affected by the irruption of the crisis. In general terms, the strength shown by the destinations on the coast, in comparison to the urban ones, a lot more prim in their growth, considerably obeys the industry’s movements over the past few years, characterised by the monetary ups and downs and the recycling of the tourists that come from other latitudes. In this sense, Exceltur mentions the entrance of travellers as a result of the politic instability of the Mediterranean Arabic destinations. It also refers to the moderation of the offer as the core of the increase of income per room.

Malaga’s rise of 2011. Despite the predominance of the holiday destinations, the city tourism accumulates a balance that, in some cases, like Santander and Barcelona, leaves a positive mark. Malaga registers an accumulated descent of 7.4% in the rate per room and of 0.9 points regarding hotel occupation. In the last year, however, the destination has dishevelled up to the point of reaching a spectacular increase, 8.2% in income and 2.8% in employment. The highest increase in the whole country, together with Barcelona. Exceltur links the increase to the proximity of the places with demand of sun and sea and to the strength of the tourism of cruises; after all, Malaga has the advantage of not having to depend exclusively on the affluence of the national public, that has been rather more timid this year as a result of the country’s economic weakness.

The balance of 2011, included in the research, also reflects Benalmadena’s rise, once again, that over the last twelve months increased the profitability of its rooms by 17.7 points, with 2.2% more employment. It also refers to Fuengirola, on the other hand, that concludes the list of the country’s holiday destinations with a decline of 4.8 and 3.4%, respectively.

Exceltur’s barometer insists that the destinations with the best results over the last few years have been the ones who decided to renew part of their offer.

Malaga will be offering packages to discover the Holy Week

Image by US Embassy Madrid via Flickr

The town hall took advantage of the first day of Fitur yesterday to sign a collaboration agreement with Halcon Viajes

The capital city of Malaga wants to promote its tourism in depth and will be offering travel packages to visit specific events such as the Holy Week or the Carnival, as announced by the mayor Francisco de la Torre yesterday, who assured that Malaga wants to contribute towards the “creation of a powerful and competitive sector that’s one step ahead of the events”.

The town hall took advantage of the first day of Fitur yesterday to sign a collaboration agreement with Halcon Viajes so that the company promotes and commercialises the city’s tourist offer, both in agencies and online, an agreement that has a budget of 140.000 euros (50% each between both signers) that will allow the visitors to discover all about the Holy week, all the museums, under the slogan “Malaga, city of museums”, or all the exhibition fairs and conferences.

Furthermore, the Halcon website will include banners of Malaga where they will be offering information on the resources and tourist attractions of the city and will create a specialised dossier about Malaga as a commercial tool for the company, as well giving out information via MMS to all the most important offices with a higher influx in Andalusia, Catalonia or Madrid.

The mayor insisted in the importance of online promotion and in the necessity to apply innovation to tourism. “Malaga is a unique city, well communicated, with unique traditions and big events, such as the Holy Week, the Carnival or the Film Festival”, he affirmed; and stated the importance of the public-private collaboration to advance in the improvement of the tourism sector. In that sense, he mentioned the foundation that is planned to be created in the Malaga tourism forum and trusts that it will be able to start rolling during this year, just like two of the clubs of products included in this project that have already begun.

Malaga has its very own 124 square meter exhibitor in Fitur, where the tourism forum meeting was held yesterday, and attended the fair in Madrid with an agenda including over 35 professional contacts.

Related articles

• http://www.malaga.us/blog/2012/01/malaga-in-fitur/

Benalmadena presents a tourist guide for mobile phones

Image via Wikipedia

Encarnacion Cortes, the tourist councillor of Benalmadena’s town hall, presented a new promotional tool to promote the municipality’s tourism. It’s an updated guide that shows images of the municipality’s different tourist attractions, that has been possible thanks to the agreement with the Touristic Innovations Centre, Andalusia Lab, pioneer centre in Europe boosted by the Andalusian Government’s Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Sport.

Benalmadena becomes the second town in Malaga province to offer this interactive guide, together with Frigiliana -and Selwo Adventure Park in Estepona- being one the five municipalities in Andalusia to have this guide.

“The main feature is that it’s an interactive tourist guide, which means the tourists can use this guide on their mobile phones to check out the municipality’s main places of interest, as well as the hotels and restaurants, and find these points the easiest and most comfortable way possible with a geolocator”, stated Cortes.

The councillor assured that there are already many hotels, restaurants and other businesses that can be found through this interactive guide, but wanted to encourage all of those who are not yet included, to get in contact with the town hall’s tourist office situated in Avenida Antonio Machado, next to Solymar Square.

You can access the guide via the QR codes displayed in the main places of interest of the municipality.

Around 20 agents will travel throughout Andalusia to reinforce the destination’s commercialisation in the German market

Image via Wikipedia

Around 20 German travel agents will be participating in a familiarisation trip from the 25th to the 27th of November, with the collaboration of the Tourism, Trade and Sport Ministry, that will allow th

em to improve their knowledge on Andalusia and reinforce the commercialisation of the destination in this market.

These German professionals work with the operator Dertour, considered the most veteran of the German market, moving approximately 4.000 passengers each year during the winter and spring in its division of groups and around 30.000 clients towards Andalusia in its holiday division, according to a statement by the Andalusian administration.

Dertour provide the whole set of Andalusian offers in their catalogues, both coastal and interior, as well as products directly related to the ‘Sun & Sea’ sector, circuits around Andalusia or packages that include the flight plus a car hire to move independently around the destination.

The group of agents will arrive at Malaga airport on the following 25th of November and during their stay in Malaga province they will be visiting Torremolinos. The next day they will be heading towards Cadiz to visit towns such as Conil de la Frontera, Tarifa, Bolonia and Jerez de la frontera.

This reverse action throughout Andalusia will end on the 27th of November with a route around Seville, where they will visit the main tourist attractions of the city like the Royal Alcazar for example, amongst others, and will be then returning to Malaga for a final tour around the Costa del Sol’s capital.

The German market is the second international issuer for Andalusia as a destination, with 611.429 visitors booked into Andalusian hotels between January and September 2011, which means an increase of 4.9% compared to the same period last year.

The tourists coming from this market made a total of 3.019.868 overnight hotel stays during the first nine months of the year, with an increase of 4.8% and have stayed in the destination for an average of 4.94 days.

Brazilian agents visit Andalucia

View of Granada from Alhambra

A dozen travel agents from the Brazilian market will be directly discovering Andalusia’s touristic offer on a familiarization trip in which the Board of Tourism, Trade and Sport are also involved, with the aim to reinforce the destination’s commercialization in this emerging issuer. This reverse action, that is jointly developed with the Portuguese operator ‘Viajes Abreu’, that also works in Brazil, ends today after starting last Monday. Both, Granada and Seville’s Tourist Boards collaborate with them. The route of this committee of agents throughout Andalusia has concentrated in showing them the destination’s main attractions in some of the sectors most demanded by the travellers from this market, such as the cultural and gastronomic tourism, amongst others, as published in a press note by the Andalusian Government.

‘Viajes Abreu’ will be offering the Brazilian market six itineraries through Andalucia next season, according to an agreement between the operator and the Board of Tourism, Trade and Sport for the destination’s promotion in Portugal and Brazil.

Andalucia is a place to visit and experience by yourself, what are you waiting to come?