Until recently, I viewed Málaga’s growing movement against ‘overtourism’ with scepticism and detachment. During the eleven years that I’ve lived in Andalucia, this gorgeous city has always been a tourist hub – which is good, because tourism drives Spain’s economy, accounting for 13 per cent of GDP and around the same proportion of jobs. The Costa del Sol, as Málaga’s coast is called, welcomed a record 15 million visitors in 2025, generating €22 billion (£18.8 billion) in revenue. Spain clearly needs its tourists, so should be careful about putting them off.  

Zack Polanski reveals his instant soup politics

The hypocrisy of Dawn French

How Black Lives Matter created Jason Arday

Xenophobia, I suspected, was mainly responsible for the protest of June 2024, which saw 15,000 residents march through Málaga behind a banner reading ‘Málaga to live in, not survive in.’ And how do you quantify ‘overtourism’ anyway? But now, after a comically bad experience in the Costa del Sol’s capital a couple of weeks ago, I’m starting to think the locals have a point.  

I’d paid for a room in central Málaga on a Saturday (for my birthday), and was told that I could check in from 1pm. When there was no sign of the host by........

© The Spectator