The Costa Del Sol AP-7 Toll Road At Manilva Set To Get A €7.1 Million Upgrade With 23 Lanes

Published

22 hours ago

August 5, 2026

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The Manilva toll booth on the AP-7 THE works will increase capacity at the Manilva toll booth after rising traffic on the route.

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Costa del Sol holidaymakers are spending more than ever as tourist cash hits record levels

Published

22 hours ago

August 5, 2026

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Foreign holidaymakers visiting the Costa del Sol are spending more money than ever before, with new figures showing visitors are putting extra cash into restaurants, shops, leisure activities and local businesses.

Although the latest study focuses mostly on Malaga city, the figures reflect a wider trend across the Costa del Sol, where popular destinations including Marbella, Fuengirola, Benalmadena, Torremolinos, Estepona, Mijas and Nerja continue to benefit from strong international tourism.

Foreign visitors spend more during Costa del Sol holidays

International tourists now spend an average of €189 per person during their stay, representing a 7.1 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

The figures come from a study using Mastercard spending data and measure money spent once visitors arrive at their destination. Accommodation costs are not included because many hotels and holiday rentals are booked and paid for before holidaymakers leave their home countries.

Compared with 2019, international tourist spending has grown by almost 88 per cent, showing that visitors are choosing to spend more on experiences, dining and shopping while enjoying their holidays in southern Spain.

For businesses across the Costa del Sol, the increase represents a major boost for restaurants, retailers, attractions and entertainment venues that depend on international visitors.

Restaurants become the biggest tourist spending attraction

Holiday habits have changed in recent years, with visitors now dedicating more of their budget to eating out and enjoying local experiences, rather than just boozing and snoozing on the beach.

Restaurants have become the largest category for international tourist spending, accounting for 18.2 per cent of all purchases. In 2019, eating out ranked much lower, showing how important food and dining have become for visitors.

Fashion and accessories account for 13 per cent of tourist spending, while other shops take 11.5 per cent. Spending on leisure and culture has also increased, with activities such as attractions and experiences now representing more than 11 per cent.

The figures suggest that visitors are looking beyond traditional beach holidays and are spending more on discovering what the Costa del Sol has to offer.

British tourists remain the biggest spenders

UK visitors continue to be the largest international spending group, accounting for 22.9 per cent of foreign tourist spending. British holidaymakers are still spending more overall, with their total spending increasing by 16.4 per cent during 2025. However, other markets are growing quickly, including visitors from the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United States, Poland, Mexico and Japan.

Travellers from Switzerland recorded the highest average spending, with an average of €321 per visitor, followed by Denmark (€302) and the United States (€287).

Tourism growth spreads and not just in summer months

While July remains the strongest month in terms of total visitor spending, months including June, November and December recorded some of the biggest increases compared with the previous year.

That trend is good news for Costa del Sol businesses, helping restaurants, shops and attractions attract customers throughout more of the year rather than relying only on the traditional summer season.

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Comic-Con Malaga 2026 Reveals 70-Star Guest List

Published

23 hours ago

August 5, 2026

Adam Woodward

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Kilometric queues outside Comic-Con. Credit: EWN

Comic-Con fans already have plenty to look forward to after San Diego Comic-Con Malaga confirmed its first wave of celebrity guests for the 2026 event, with around 70 special guests already signed up and organisers promising even more announcements before October.

Running from October 1 to 4, 2026, at Malaga’s Fycma exhibition and conference centre, the convention is building on the success of its debut by bringing together film stars, TV favourites, comic creators, gaming legends and pop culture icons under one roof.

Lord of the Rings stars lead Comic-Con Malaga line-up

Among the biggest names confirmed are Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, forever loved by fans for playing Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Joining them will be Karl Urban, best known today for his role in The Boys, while Christopher Lambert, remembered by many for Highlander, is also scheduled to appear.

Marvel fans are in for a treat too, with Deborah Ann Woll, who starred as Karen Page in Daredevil, confirmed for the event.

Organisers have stressed that the guest list remains open, meaning even more celebrities could be announced over the coming weeks.

Comic creators and gaming legends also confirmed

Comic-Con Malaga is about much more than film and television. Comic book fans will be able to meet respected artists including Iban Coello, Glenn Fabry, Arthur Suydam and Natacha Bustos, representing a wide range of styles and publishers.

Gaming buffs are also well catered for. Legendary developer John Romero, one of the creators behind Doom and Wolfenstein 3D, will attend, while Jeremy Crawford, one of the lead designers of Dungeons & Dragons, is also on the programme.

Film producer and director Dean Devlin will use the event to present exclusive previews of upcoming seasons of The Ark and The Librarians: The Next Chapter.

Malaga prepares for another international pop culture celebration

Following a successful debut, San Diego Comic-Con Malaga continues to establish itself as one of Europe’s biggest pop culture events.

Visitors can expect celebrity panels, autograph sessions, exhibitions, gaming experiences, comic book artists, exclusive previews and plenty of cosplay across the four-day convention.

With nearly 70 guests already confirmed and organisers continuing to announce new additions, anticipation is only likely to grow as October approaches.

For the latest guest announcements and ticket information, fans can visit the official San Diego Comic-Con Malaga website: https://sandiegocomicconmalaga.com.

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Costa Del Sol’s Busiest AP-7 Toll Set For Overhaul

Published

23 hours ago

August 5, 2026

Adam Woodward

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Casares to Manilva toll on AP-7. Credit: Ayto Maniva

Drivers using the AP-7 near Manilva could soon notice major changes after plans were revealed for a full redevelopment of one of the Costa del Sol’s busiest toll plazas, with work expected to take around 14 months.

Manilva AP-7 toll plaza to expand as traffic reaches record levels

Autopista del Sol, the contract holder operating the AP-7, has drawn up a €7.15 million project to increase capacity at the Manilva toll plaza after years of rising traffic volumes. Construction plans prepared by engineering firm CEMOSA say the current layout is no longer able to cope comfortably during peak periods.

Figures included in the project show average daily traffic reached almost 20,000 vehicles in 2024, while August recorded a peak of 29,709 vehicles per day. During busy summer weekends, queues regularly stretch beyond 10 vehicles, with engineers warning delays are expected to become worse unless capacity is increased.

Despite long-running calls from many drivers to remove tolls on this stretch of motorway, the proposal focuses entirely on expanding and modernising the existing facilities rather than scrapping the charges. At least for now. 2027 elections might see some changes.

More toll lanes and smarter traffic management

Once completed, the redesigned plaza will contain 23 physical lanes, although no more than 17 will operate at any one time.

Plans include:

Two specific electronic toll (Via-T) lanes
Two multi-category lanes
Four manual payment booths
Nine automatic lanes accepting cash, bank cards and electronic payment
Six reversible lanes, up from the current four, allowing operators to react more easily to changing traffic flows

Construction will also add three new toll lanes, with one serving traffic towards Cadiz and two handling vehicles travelling towards Malaga.

Existing automatic lanes will be rearranged, while several payment lanes will be converted to manual operation. Advanced toll lanes currently positioned outside the main canopy will also be incorporated beneath an enlarged roof structure.

Casares-Manilva junction also due for improvements

Attention will not be limited to the toll plaza itself. Engineers also plan to remodel the 655-metre slip road connecting the A-377 with the AP-7, commonly known as the Casares-Manilva link. According to the project, the redesign will bring the junction into line with current road safety standards while improving vehicle movements entering and leaving the motorway.

Current toll booths will disappear and be replaced with prefabricated cabins equipped with upgraded payment technology, air conditioning, raised technical flooring and modern electrical and communications systems.

Drainage beneath the toll plaza, described as being in poor condition, will also be completely renewed. Water supply, fire protection, lighting, electricity, telecommunications and lane technology will all receive upgrades as part of the investment.

Safety upgrades planned across the site

Road safety forms a major part of the redevelopment. Drivers can expect new speed reduction signs, transverse rumble strips before reaching the toll area, variable message boards, extra lighting designed for foggy conditions, upgraded crash barriers, CCTV cameras and completely renewed road markings and traffic signs.

Another part of the scheme involves extending the underpass at kilometre point 11+030 by around 4.5 metres. Prefabricated construction methods are expected to reduce disruption because the route provides regular access to a nearby quarry.

Traffic will continue during the 14-month project

Construction will take place in phases so vehicles can continue using the motorway throughout the works.

Temporary diversions and lane changes will be introduced whenever necessary around the underpass, toll plaza and Casares-Manilva access road, with expropriations kept to a minimum. Land acquisition costs are estimated at just €2,875 because all affected land already lies within Manilva municipality.

Project documentation places the total estimated investment at €7.15 million, with the largest share of spending devoted to toll lane infrastructure, resurfacing work and technical installations.