Óscar Puente, Minister of Transport, stated that the economic and tourism figures for the province of Málaga during Holy Week contradict the “hoaxes” spread by the PP. These statements follow criticism from the popular party regarding the direct AVE connection disruption, an incident that, according to Puente, was used to blame the Government for “invented” economic damages.
The minister made these remarks in the Senate, after hotel occupancy data for the Costa del Sol surpassed initial forecasts. Hotels reported an average occupancy of 82.25% during Holy Week, representing a 2.67 percentage point increase compared to the previous year, as reported by the employers' association Aehcos. This rise is significant, considering that last year's Holy Week was affected by rain that prevented many processions.
“"When the facts emerge, the most prudent thing is to set the matter aside; bringing this question here puts you in a very bad light."
Puente criticized the PP for quantifying losses at 1.3 billion euros, while Andalusian institutions, including Málaga's mayor, Francisco de la Torre, and the president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, had already downplayed the impact. The reality, according to the minister, is a 3% growth in Holy Week hotel occupancy and a 5% average increase in March.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted an increase of 14,307 registered workers in March in Málaga, the largest historical rise in the province, and 28,842 more in the year-on-year comparison, the largest increase across all Andalusian provinces. Puente clarified that the high-speed rail line disruption was not a ministerial decision but a consequence of torrential rains that caused a landslide in Álora.
Meanwhile, PP Senator José Alberto Armijo lamented that Málaga's growth is being “hindered” by the “abandonment” of infrastructure maintenance policies, turning high-speed rail into “slow and tortuous speed”.
