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Date Published: 23/04/2025

Record-breaking Easter for Andalucía as younger tourists boost spending

Hotels fill up and €470 million rolls in as Holy Week visitors flock to Seville, Malaga, Jaén and beyond

Andalucía has rounded off a bumper Easter week, welcoming over a million tourists — a new all-time record for Holy Week in the region. According to the regional government, visitor numbers reached 1.02 million, up 22.3% on last year and surpassing the previous record set in 2023.

Tourism Minister Arturo Bernal said the profile of travellers is shifting too, with a “younger, more dynamic” crowd choosing Andalucía this year. A full 67% of visitors were under 44 years old, and 35% were under 30. These tourists spent more too — an average of €93.36 per person per day — and they gave the experience a satisfaction score of 8.1 out of 10.

Bernal described the week’s results as “more than positive”, highlighting the tourism sector’s “cross-cutting potential”, which benefits 81 different industries indirectly. He also noted the more mindful attitude of visitors, who were “more efficient in reconciling the legitimate interests of local citizens for better coexistence”.

Hotel occupancy across Andalucía averaged 77.4% for the week, rising to 83% on Holy Thursday and Saturday. Major cities like Seville (87.6%), Málaga (85.4%), and Córdoba (85.2%) led the way. Jaén also stood out with occupancy close to 90%, thanks to a flurry of last-minute bookings after initial concerns about the weather.

In Seville, hotels hit an average of 89% occupancy between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday, with Good Friday peaking at 93%. Mayor José Luis Sanz estimated the economic impact of Holy Week in Seville alone at €500 million and praised the “almost perfect operation of all municipal services”.

Meanwhile, Cádiz closed out a “good” Easter week and now looks ahead to the Jerez MotoGP Grand Prix. Marbella celebrated “spectacular” tourism figures, and Granada ended the season with a “successful” level of hotel occupancy. The nearby Sierra Nevada ski resort also enjoyed a strong finish, welcoming 46,900 skiers between Saturday April 12 and Sunday April 20.

Across the region, rural accommodation and tourist lets also exceeded expectations, with occupancy peaking at over 60% during the long weekend. All in all, it was a Holy Week to remember for Andalucía’s tourism industry — both on the coast and in the hills.

Image: Pille R. Priske/Pexels

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