Tourists in a holiday and spa resort located in Malaga, Andalusia, are being advised to turn off the water tap while brushing their teeth in an effort to save up water consumption as the whole region is dealing with water reduction measures.
This summer season, Malaga town of Andalusia – a popular tourist destination in Spain, has been dealing with water restrictions, with consumers being able to use water only for a few hours during the day.
If it weren’t for a 2,000-litre water tank for these days, the holiday resort would have already been closed.
“We have already lost a lot of bookings. People call us thinking they are going to suffer from water cuts, and it makes a lot of people worried about coming. I really hope it rains next winter,” Hijab Chakir, Manager at Mediterraneo Hostel in Torre Del Mar, pointed out.
The Malaga region is hoping that salt desalination can offer a lifeline. The new factory is planned, but it will be at least five years before it opens.
According to France 24, the measure is one way to tackle a historic drought that has caused the region’s main water reservoir to go low in the past. The situation can affect more than 100,000 people, especially those working in hotels and other accommodation establishments.
“I feel tired of just thinking about carrying water to the bathroom. It was so easy to just open the tap and have water. This really is turning the clock back,” Angela, an 83-year resident of the region, said.
On the other hand, the mayor of the district, Salavadore Arcus, says that restrictions have reduced water consumption by 20 per cent in an effort to distribute the water equally everywhere. The region’s villages depend on a water reservoir, which, this year, has reached only eight per cent of its capacity – marking a record low.
In general, Spain is experiencing a boom in recovery rates in tourism as nearly 10.3 million arrivals were recorded in July, marking an 11.5 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
The Spanish Institute of Tourism, Turespaña, has revealed that tourism rates recorded this summer are the closest to July 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic had not broken out yet. This means that 2023 levels remain only 1.62 per cent away from tourism rates recorded in pre-pandemic levels. In addition, 56 per cent of the total passenger flow originates from the European Union member states.
