A dramatic “Western Shift” is currently reshaping the 2026 travel season as thousands of British holidaymakers move their bookings away from the Eastern Mediterranean. Following recent NATO missile interceptions near Turkey and the drone impact at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, travel experts like Simon Calder are reporting a massive surge in “precautionary rebookings” toward the safety of the Costa del Sol. While destinations like Antalya and Paphos remain technically safe, the psychological need for a “safety net” is driving a record-breaking influx of tourists to Spain’s southern shores, turning the Costa del Sol into the definitive sanctuary of the year.

Why some travellers are reconsidering eastern Mediterranean trips

Recent developments in the Middle East have contributed to uncertainty among some travellers considering destinations such as Turkey and Cyprus.

Turkey said earlier this week that a ballistic munition launched towards the country from Iran was intercepted by NATO air defences. Although the incident did not occur in tourist areas, the news has raised concerns among some travellers planning holidays in the region. The UK Foreign Office currently states that most of Turkey remains safe for travel, although it advises against visiting areas close to the Syrian border.

Cyprus also remains open to tourism, with no official advice against travel. However, UK guidance notes that regional escalation could create security risks and has already caused some disruption, including incidents affecting military facilities on the island. Local tourism officials have said they have begun hearing about cancellations from visitors who are reconsidering their travel plans.

Why the Costa del Sol continues to attract British tourists

Spain’s Costa del Sol has built a strong reputation with UK travellers thanks to its weather, accessibility and well-developed tourism infrastructure. During summer, the region typically enjoys temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and long hours of sunshine, making it one of Europe’s most reliable warm-weather destinations.

Marbella is often the most famous resort along the coast, known for its luxury hotels, nightlife and beaches. Nearby Estepona has developed a quieter reputation, transforming from a traditional fishing town into a popular destination with modern restaurants, bars and a restored historic centre that still reflects Andalusian culture.

The area also remains relatively affordable compared with some European resorts. In many local bars, a pint of beer can cost just over two euros, adding to the region’s appeal for travellers seeking good value.

What this means for Spain’s tourism outlook

Spain remains one of the world’s most visited countries, and British visitors continue to play a major role in the tourism economy. Air connections between the UK and Malaga Airport make the Costa del Sol particularly accessible, with frequent flights from cities across Britain.

As global events continue to influence travel decisions, destinations that combine familiarity, strong infrastructure and perceived stability are likely to remain among the most attractive choices for international tourists. For the Costa del Sol, that reputation continues to draw visitors year after year.

The municipality of Alhendín in the province of Granada has inaugurated its first “Cat Hotel”, a specially adapted shelter designed to protect community cats living in local colonies. The project has been developed with support from the Fundación Unicaja and the town’s local authority, Ayuntamiento de Alhendín. The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts in the town to improve the management and welfare of stray cat colonies while promoting responsible and humane animal control policies.

New shelter created from recycled container

The Cat Hotel has been built using a recycled bottle bank container that has been modified to provide safe shelter for cats living outdoors. The structure has been adapted so that animals can enter easily while remaining protected from rain, cold and high summer temperatures. Inside the container, the space has been prepared to provide a secure refuge for community cats that live in managed colonies in the municipality. The project demonstrates how existing urban infrastructure can be reused to support animal welfare initiatives.

Local volunteers and animal welfare advocates collaborated in the design and installation of the shelter to ensure it meets the needs of the cats that will use it.

Community organisations involved in the project

The shelter was promoted by the volunteer association Colonias Felinas de Alhendín Bigotes Solidarios, a group that works locally to monitor and care for cat colonies across the municipality. The association collaborates with the local council to supervise feeding points, monitor the health of cats and assist with sterilisation programmes designed to control colony populations. Support from the Fundación Unicaja helped make the Cat Hotel project possible, providing resources for the construction and installation of the structure.

Local authorities say cooperation between volunteers, charities and public institutions is an essential part of managing community animal populations effectively.

Part of a wider cat colony management strategy

The project forms part of the wider system used across many Spanish municipalities to manage stray cat populations through the CER method, which stands for Capture, Sterilise and Return. Under this approach, cats living in colonies are captured humanely, sterilised by veterinarians and then returned to their original territory. This method aims to stabilise colony populations, improve animal health and reduce uncontrolled breeding.

In addition to sterilisation, volunteers and local authorities monitor feeding areas and provide shelters so that animals can live in safer conditions while remaining within their established territories. The Cat Hotel installed in Alhendín is intended to complement this approach by offering a protected space for cats within the colony network.

Location and purpose of the new facility

The shelter has been installed on the old Motril road in the municipality, an area where community cat colonies are present. By providing a designated refuge, organisers hope the structure will help protect animals from harsh weather conditions and reduce the risks they face when living outdoors. Volunteers working with local cat colonies will continue to monitor the animals that use the shelter and ensure it remains clean and suitable for use.

According to organisers, the initiative also aims to raise awareness about responsible management of community cats and the importance of humane population control methods.

A model that could expand locally

The installation of the Cat Hotel is being viewed as a pilot project that could lead to additional shelters being created in other areas of the municipality in the future.

Local officials say that if the initiative proves successful, similar structures could be installed in other locations where managed colonies exist. Animal welfare groups increasingly promote shelters of this kind as part of broader programmes to improve conditions for community cats while maintaining balanced urban ecosystems.

Growing attention to urban animal welfare

Across Spain, municipalities are expanding programmes to regulate and manage cat colonies following new national legislation on animal welfare introduced in recent years.

These policies encourage cooperation between councils, veterinary professionals and volunteer organisations to implement humane population control and improve the living conditions of animals that cannot easily be rehomed.

The Cat Hotel in Alhendín reflects this broader trend, combining local volunteer efforts with institutional support to address the needs of community cats in a structured and sustainable way. Officials say the project represents an example of how small-scale initiatives can contribute to improving animal welfare while maintaining responsible management of urban wildlife populations.

A groundbreaking EU regulation on dog  welfare could soon transform the lives of Spain’s hunting dogs, ending years of unequal treatment.

Hunting dogs in Spain face a massive divide in basic rights compared to companion pets. Thousands of Podencos, Greyhounds, and similar breeds in Spain endure minimal oversight in kennels or during hunting seasons according to advocates. Spanish Law 7/2023 excludes hunting dogs from key protections, treating them more like production animals than the sentient beings they are and the treatment received due to established laws. This leaves them without mandatory microchipping, traceable ownership, or systematic checks on living conditions. Abandonment tends to peak at season’s end, with authorities struggling to hold owners accountable due to absent records. It also overwhelms animal shelters which have a no-kill policy for healthy creatures. This is not true for all hunters and their dogs, as many professional hunters treat their dogs with care. However, full oversight in Spain is sadly lacking.

Why are hunting dogs exempt from laws regulating pets’ rights?

Political choices sometimes put rural traditions first as well as the interests of the hunting lobby. In Spain, law 7/2023 deliberately carves out exceptions for hunting breeds, classifying them together with livestock rather than companion animals. In many rural cases, the animals are viewed tools for activities like hare coursing or driven hunts rather than family pets deserving of the same safeguards their pet fellows enjoy. Critics argue this creates a two-tier system. While pampered urban dogs can enjoy legal protections against abuse, hunting dogs often remain invisible to welfare enforcement. Subsequently, many abandoned hunting dogs end up overloading animal rescues.

However, an EU proposal now promises universal traceability through mandatory microchipping and national database registration for all dogs, regardless of purpose. Amendments adopted in June 2025 have reinforced inclusion without exceptions, defining working dogs, including those of hunters, under the same rules, which until now they have not been in Spain.

How the proposed system would work

Interoperable EU databases would link Spain’s fragmented systems, enabling better abuse investigations and curbing any illegal trade. A ban on non-therapeutic mutilations like tail docking would apply more broadly, though exceptions continue today for certain breeds.

Implementation hurdles are the biggest obstacle in Spain, though, despite the regulation’s potential. National proposals to reform laws still exclude hunting dogs from the standards pet animals enjoy, with separate rules possibly offering even laxer oversight.

What can one do to pressure their MEPs?

Campaigners are currently encouraging people to contact their MEPs directly via email, phone, or social media to encourage full transposition of laws without loopholes. Support campaigns from groups like AnimaNaturalis, sign petitions demanding equal protection, and join advocacy efforts highlighting abandonment statistics. Public pressure has proved effective in shaping EU amendments in the past, and citizens can push MEPs to put animal sentience higher on the agenda over hunting exemptions during final adoption stages.

Animal welfare advocates remain hopeful this landmark EU move forces Spain to bridge the gap, granting hunting dogs the recognition they deserve as sentient individuals.