Spain’s Costa Del Sol Threatened by Climate Crisis as Temperatures Rise & Seasons Shift.
The president of the regional government in Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, predicts a significant change in the travel patterns of tourists visiting the Costa del Sol due to rising temperatures.
After he participated in the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, Moreno expressed his concerns about the deep challenges that await the tourism industry in the region.
According to local media, after returning from the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, he highlighted the imminent “profound challenges” facing the tourism industry in the region.
Fortunately, the current tourism season on the Costa del Sol has not suffered from a lack of water reserves. While acknowledging the possibility that tourism activities might be affected in the future, President Moreno expressed optimism about recovering lost rainfall in the coming months.
In addition, rising average temperatures and the intensity of heat waves are expected to change the traditional tourist season, prompting visitors to choose the cooler months. As Moreno explains, Andalucia and the Costa del Sol could face increased competition from destinations with a more moderate climate.
Despite these challenges, he expressed hope and confidence that in 2024, the region can maintain the extraordinary figures achieved in the recently concluded season, setting records for Andalucía, the province of Malaga and the Costa del Sol.
Previously, visitors to a holiday resort and spa located in Malaga, Andalusia, were asked to conserve water by turning off the taps while brushing their teeth, as the entire region faced water restrictions. This summer, in Malaga’s popular Spanish tourist centre, water restrictions were in place, allowing residents and tourists access to water for only a limited time each day.
Moreover, the Malaga region targeted desalination as a possible solution to combat a severe historic drought. Although plans are underway for a new desalination plant, a five-year timeline is expected before its operational debut. One such initiative is a response to declining water levels in the region’s main reservoir, posing a threat to over 100,000 individuals, especially those employed in the hospitality sector, including hotels and accommodations.
