The hotel figures for the Costa Tropical for August were impressive, followed by a September equally impressive. Are things starting to look up? In fact, the figures are much like the figures a decade ago, before the crisis bit.

The Asociación de Hoteleros de la Costa Tropical, amongst other sources, points to an influx of foreign tourists who would have otherwise spent their holidays in Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey, had there been more stability in those countries.

Comparing figures for July 2014 with July 2016 shows that whereas there were 20,856 overnight stays from foreign tourists in the former, this year saw 53,894.

But it’s not only occupation figures that are rising because room prices have also risen, as the hotel sector feels that it no longer has to slash prices in order to keep their doors open.

According to Trivago, the most popular webpage for finding hotel rooms, a night’s stay in Almuñécar in the middle of summer 2010 cost 171 euros, falling to 112 during 2012. However, this year it stood at 198 euros. We use Almuñécar figures as this town is the epicentre of the hotel sector for the Costa Tropical.

As for the Costa’s chiringuitos – the other economic pulse indicator – summer 2016 was a “golden” one, too. The Chairman of the Costa Tropical Chiringuito Association, Francisco Trujillo, also emphasised the increased percentage of foreign tourists amongst their customers.

Taking a look at national figures, it is foreseen that Spain will receive 74-million, foreign tourist during 2016, accompanied by a 10% increase in the money that each holidaymaker spends.

That’s an 8.8% increase, according to Isabel Borrego, who is the Secretary of State for Tourism in the Central Government.

And of course, more tourists; more badly needed employment, even if it is badly paid and only seasonal.

(Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)