simply-shuttles

  While there is a sense of last year having been a time of recovery from the worst of the COVID-19 crisis for Spain and the wider world, there is also no doubt that the health of many important sectors has not yet returned to how it was in 2019. This much is reflected in the latest figures related to foreign tourism in Spain, which have shown that while there was a sizable jump in visitors during 2021 compared to the previous year, there is still some way to go to achieve a full return to pre-pandemic levels.  What exactly do the statistics say?  As disclosed by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) and reported by Reuters, some 31.1 million foreign tourists were registered in the country during 2021.  This represented a significant rise on the 19 million recorded for 2020, and indicated that Spain was beginning to find sustainable ways to live with the ongoing coronavirus threat as pandemic restrictions were largely lifted over the course of the ye...

  While there is a sense of last year having been a time of recovery from the worst of the COVID-19 crisis for Spain and the wider world, there is also no doubt that the health of many important sectors has not yet returned to how it was in 2019. This much is reflected in the latest figures related to foreign tourism in Spain, which have shown that while there was a sizable jump in visitors during 2021 compared to the previous year, there is still some way to go to achieve a full return to pre-pandemic levels.  What exactly do the statistics say?  As disclosed by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) and reported by Reuters, some 31.1 million foreign tourists were registered in the country during 2021.  This represented a significant rise on the 19 million recorded for 2020, and indicated that Spain was beginning to find sustainable ways to live with the ongoing coronavirus threat as pandemic restrictions were largely lifted over the course of the ye...

Residents and admirers of the Costa del Sol city of Marbella are being encouraged to vote for it to win a “European Best Destinations” seal in association with the European Commission’s Eden Network.  Marbella mayor Ángeles Muñoz has said that the competition represents a publicity windfall for the city, with the potential to reach as many as 420 million travellers.  The inclusion of Marbella among the 20 best European destinations in the running for the accolade will allow it to benefit from being featured on one of the most visited platforms for tourism on the continent. It will also feature in relevant associated media, such as Forbes , Condé Nast Traveler , and National Geographic .   What rivals does Marbella face for the prize?  As reported by SUR in English, the destinations that Marbella has been selected alongside include the likes of London, Prague, Athens, Rome, Istanbul, Crete, Lucerne, and Bavaria.  In Muñoz’s words: “We are going to ...

The mountain village of Benahavis has long punched above its weight as a tourist destination and indeed, as a place increasing numbers of people choose to live, work and play.  Those who have taken advantage in the past of our Malaga airport transfers to Benahavis are likely to appreciate the Costa del Sol municipality’s many charms, sights and stimulations. But what are just some of the things you might not have previously realised about this long-time tourist magnet lying a mere seven kilometres from the coast?  Benahavis is tiny… but growing  With its population of just below 8,000 people according to 2018 estimates, Benahavis retains a relatively unspoilt ‘village’ feel compared to many other in-demand settlements on the Costa del Sol.  It is, however, continuing to attract new discerning foreigners on the lookout for a peaceful haven not too far from Marbella. Furthermore, it is important to appreciate that while the village is small, the municipality ...

  You may be accustomed to seeing Marbella as many things – including as a land of sun, sea and sand – but have you ever thought of it as being smarter than your smartphone?  That is the conclusion you may now reach, in the wake of the news that Marbella has become the first city in Andalucia to be bestowed with the title of Smart Tourism Destination, courtesy of the Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality.  Marbella has been handed this accolade on account of its “innovation and sustainability”, the city and municipality having undergone various initiatives in relation to digital transformation, accessibility, energy efficiency, and social and environmental innovation.  The importance of many of these measures – geared towards enhancing Marbella’s technological sophistication to help make life easier for residents and visitors alike – has arguably become even greater in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  A “cutting-edge offer compared with direct competi...