Alicante vs Málaga

Málaga leads Alicante by 2 points on the CIRA Index, 59 to 57. Alicante grades better on 5 measures, Málaga on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Alicante 57, Málaga 59
• OECD: Alicante 59, Málaga 60
• UN Tourism: Alicante 57, Málaga 55
• UNDRR: Alicante 60, Málaga 64

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Alicante 70, Málaga 75
• Economy and jobs: Alicante 75, Málaga 58
• Climate and hazards: Alicante 45, Málaga 45
• Water and environment: Alicante 42, Málaga 38
• Community and housing: Alicante 50, Málaga 56
• Access and continuity: Alicante 66, Málaga 73

Where Alicante is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 42.6 % of nights by residents of the same country (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). Between 35 and 45: grade 3/4.
• Average length of stay: 2.6 nights per visitor (Turisme Comunitat Valenciana / INE, 'Perfil del turista alojado en oferta reglada en la Comunitat Valenciana. Resultados año 2023', 2023). Between 2.2 and 2.8: grade 2/4.
• Unemployment rate: 11.4 % of the labour force (region figure) (Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Encuesta de Población Activa (EPA), Q2 2026). Between 8 and 12: grade 2/4.
• Income per head: 59,868 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 45,000 and 60,000: grade 3/4.
• Extreme heat days: 2.8 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.

Where Málaga is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 29.1 % of annual nights (Turismo y Planificación Costa del Sol, Balance de la situación del sector turístico en Málaga en 2025, 2025). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 17.2 % of international arrivals or nights (INE, foreign tourists by municipality and country of residence (mobile-phone positioning, table 52048), 2025). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Rent growth: 4.7 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Idealista, 'Rental property report', 2025). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Largest airline group share: 32.1 % of airport passengers carried by the largest airline group (Aena, detailed traffic statistics (passengers by airline, route and country), Sep 2025 – Aug 2026). Between 30 and 40: grade 2/4.
• Air route concentration: 43 % of international air passengers on routes to the 3 largest partner countries (Aena, detailed traffic statistics (passengers by airline, route and country), Sep 2025 – Aug 2026). Between 35 and 50: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Alicante in full · Málaga in full

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