The deep Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge that links the municipalities of Álora and Ardales in the rural hinterland of Marbella at the Costa del Sol has not only helped to bring millions of much-needed Euros into the struggling local economy. It has put rural Marbella on the international tourism map.
Caminito del Rey has certainly been a welcome new attraction for residential tourists visiting their holiday homes in Marbella several times a year. Many come to the Costa del Sol to enjoy a different, more active lifestyle.
More than 300,000 thrill-seekers from across the globe walked the hair-raising gorge trail Caminito del Rey in the first 12 months of it opening after a 25-year hiatus – and the world’s tourism experts sat up and began to spread the word in travel blogs, well-known tourism websites and reputable newspapers’ travel guides.
Red Tape getting in the Way of Caminito del Rey’s continued Success?
After the phenomenal success of the hiking path’s first year, the decision to close it by local authorities came as something of a shock to local tourism chiefs.
The small district of El Chorro, which belongs to the municipality of Álora, experienced an economic upsurge thanks to the opening of the gorge trail. Adventure tour operators began to include this part of Malaga Province in their brochures. International media, including TV reporters, came to see the “world’s most dangerous trail” for themselves, perhaps inflating the gorge trail’s danger element somewhat, but reporting accurately on the spectacular and beautiful setting on the rural outskirts of Marbella.
Local authorities showed exemplary cooperation in the run-up to the opening in March 2015. All parties and institutions, no matter what their political flavour, contributed something towards the three million Euro renovation project. The Diputación de Málaga, local Town Halls and the Junta de Andalucía all worked together without their usual back-biting and bickering.
This previously unheard of cooperation brought many positive results for local businesses. Although the first year’s tickets were free and could be downloaded from the website, local Town Halls were given free tickets to distribute to local businesses at their discretion. Rural businesses used the tickets as incentives for visitors to come to their shops, restaurants, guesthouses and hotels.
According to Elias Bendodo, the president of the provincial government, Caminito del Rey’s success has totally altered the economy of the villages in the greater El Chorro area and the municipalities of Álora and Ardales. Jobs have been created as a result of businesses making greater profits from both international and domestic tourism.
El Chorro’s 40 million Euro Windfall
According to estimates by the provincial government, the area benefited to the tune of ca. 40 million Euros in the first year alone – and this in a region that had been particularly hard hit when the world’s economies took a downward tumble and Spain’s property sector collapsed.
Queco Garcia, the president of the Guadalhorce Business Association and owner of the La Garganta tourism complex near the entrance of Caminito del Rey on the Álora side of the gorge, was convinced right from the beginning of the project that the gorge trail would have a positive impact on local businesses and unemployment.
“From the moment it opened we have seen a complete change in an area which was stagnant. We calculate that the businesses that work directly with the Caminito or are within the geographic radius of it, have seen their profits triple, at least,” Mr Garcia stated, adding that even businesses located in the area but not directly involved in the day-to-day tourism aspect of the gorge trail, have benefited from influx of tourists.
“The others have experienced an increase in business of at least 20% to 30%, and this is clearly related to the opening of the Caminito del Rey,” he said, explaining also that many companies had been able to hire twice as many people as before as a result of the gorge trail’s success.
“At La Garganta, in the first few months alone, we doubled the number of contracted employees and they are all from the three villages closest to the Caminito del Rey: Ardales, Álora and Valle de Abdalajís,” Mr Garcia enthused, adding that local hotel owners were also delighted with the first year’s results.
He estimates that during the peak summer season in 2015, local hotel occupancy stood at ca. 90% in hotels located nearest the gorge trail, with a slightly lower rate of occupancy for guesthouses and hotels located further away from Caminito del Rey. Like other business owners in the area, Mr Garcia hopes that the model for the distribution of tickets and the way in which Caminito del Rey is promoted will be changed for the second year of operations.
Entering Phase #2
María del Mar González, the mayor of Ardales, and the president of the Diputación, made details of the second phase investment public last October.
Both end points in Álora and Ardales respectively will receive a visitor reception centre, where tourists will be able to obtain information about the gorge trail itself, but also be able to purchase audiovisual material, maps and guide books.
In addition, the second phase will address various problems that resulted from adverse weather conditions, when strong winds made it impossible to enter the Caminito del Rey safely and the gorge trail had to be closed.
To avoid disappointing visitors this year, a tunnel will be constructed from the gate to the bridge. Historically, the gorge featured a waterfall, a feature much commented on last year, when it transpired that the waterfall was missing from the trail. The old waterfall is to be restored, and will now be cascading down 100 metres, with the water coursing through a new water pipe. These projects will cost ca. 1.2 million Euros and are to be completed in 2016.
The second phase is to ensure that the reputation of the Caminito del Rey continues to grow among international thrill-seekers. With steady visitor numbers the Guadalhorce region will continue to benefit and can be developed into an alternative tourist destination rivalling beach resorts at the Costa del Sol.
Rather than being managed by two Town Halls constantly at odds with one another, the gorge trail will from now on be managed and maintained by a private company, a joint venture between two local businesses, Hermanos Campano S.L. and Bobastro 2000 S.L. They will be responsible for bookings and ticket sales, security and visitor safety. The new tickets will cost around 10.00 Euros per person.
While all of these decisions are positive, locals are angry that nobody in an official capacity saw fit to inform the public that the gorge trail would have to be closed for about one month in order to carry out the phase #2 works. No official apology was forthcoming though and the closure went ahead despite protests.
Authorities did confirm, however, that in order for visitors to enjoy the outstanding natural beauty of the gorge and surrounding area for many years to come, the number of visitors would be restricted to 300,000 per annum, which works out to a maximum of 1,100 hikers per day.
The typical Marbella holiday home buyer is slightly older than the average and typically more discerning. Development of the Guadalhorce region, which is located just a few miles inland, will add to the overall Marbella appeal, as it will offer new day trip destinations for bike rides and hiking to those seeking an active holiday and those who love nature. Already sales of luxury homes in Marbella lead the Costa del Sol’s property market and are only second to Barcelona on a national level.
Opening up the Guadalhorce region will offer international buyers keen to find their place in the sun a rural alternative to the purpose-built apartments, townhouses and villas in Marbella.