Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Aug 22
TOP STORIES: "Region of Murcia to welcome 16 new hotels in the next three years" & "Holidaymakers hit with soaring flight costs across Spain"
We’re heading into the last week of August and as the end of summer approaches, things are finally starting to cool down a little. Gone are the red weather warnings that signalled scorching temperatures rarely before seen, to be replaced by relatively cooler days and nights and, dare we say it? Even a drop or two of rain.
Having said that, the last few weeks have turned Spain’s forests and scrub lands into little more than kindling and dozens of wildfires are still burning up and down the country. But the Spanish government has stepped in with a plan to help those affected – we’ll tell you more about that below.
Lots more has been happening too, including wild expansion plans for the tourism industry, revamped roads and chickens cheating death!
We’ll get to that in just a second, but just a heads up first that the team here will be taking a much needed break next Friday August 29 and September 5, so we won’t have any Weekly Round-Up for you on those dates. But fear not! We’ll be back with all your favourite news stories and goings on in a brand new edition on Friday September 12.
Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s round-up.
Checking in, cashing out
The stats are pretty impressive. More than 850,000 travellers have already picked Murcia for their holidays this year, which is up 1.3% from 2024. But it's not just the visitor numbers that are through the roof. A whopping 275 new tourism businesses have popped up in the first half of 2025 alone, including 158 holiday apartments and 90 country houses. Someone's clearly spotted a golden opportunity!
Álvaro Donas from CaboXperiencia in Cabo de Palos put it best when he described the surge as "insane." His kayaking and paddleboarding business tripled its turnover in June compared to the previous month. Not a bad month's work, eh?
And here's where it gets really exciting: this boom isn't just a flash in the pan.
Over the next three years, 16 brand new hotels are planned with more than 700 additional beds. We're looking at proper luxury too, with three five-star hotels in the mix, including Murcia city's very first five-star establishment (the historic Arco de San Juan is getting a complete makeover).
Cartagena's getting the lion's share with four new hotels, while places like San Pedro del Pinatar, Alhama and even Caravaca are all getting in on the action. There's even going to be a boutique hotel inside the iconic Cabo de Palos Lighthouse – now that's what we call a room with a view!
The Tourism Institute has been fielding 41 requests just this year from developers wanting to build everything from luxury resorts to motorhome parks. Looks like everyone wants a piece of Murcia's tourism pie and frankly, we can't blame them.
Flight or fright
So, remember when we thought flight prices were getting a bit steep? Turns out we hadn't seen anything yet.
If you're flying within Spain, it's even worse. Domestic flights shot up by 11.9% in June and that came after a record-breaking 21.3% surge in April. At this point, a weekend trip to Barcelona might cost more than your mortgage payment!
The whole mess started back in August 2024 when prices jumped by 21% in a single month. Since then, it's been one increase after another, with airlines basically playing a game of ‘how much can we charge before people stop flying?’
Spoiler alert: we're still flying, just with much lighter wallets.
International flights aren't much better either. Sure, the increases are slightly less dramatic, but we're still looking at a 3.5% rise in June and a whopping 17.8% spike in April.
And just to make your travel experience even more delightful, Ryanair ground staff are staging strikes that'll run through to the end of the year. So not only will you pay through the nose for your ticket, you might also get to spend some quality time camping out at the airport.
It's a far cry from the pandemic days when flight prices were actually dropping. Those 21 months of cheaper travel feel like a distant memory now, especially with costs continuing to climb month after month with no end in sight.
Road rules revamp
Spain's traffic bosses have been busy this year cooking up
a whole bunch of new rules for anyone on two wheels and honestly, it's about time. With 286 motorcyclist deaths and 46 cyclist deaths in 2024 alone, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) decided something had to be done.
So what's changed? Well, if you're a motorcyclist, you've probably already noticed that protective gear just got a lot more serious. Integrated or modular helmets are now compulsory, along with proper gloves.
Plus, when it gets dark or visibility drops, you'll need reflective gear that makes you visible from at least 150 metres away.
They've also made learning to ride a bit more thorough. Since July, new riders have to spend more time practicing in actual traffic before they can get their license. No more wobbling around empty car parks and calling it good enough.
Cyclists haven't been forgotten either. The same 150-metre visibility rule applies to them in poor conditions, which makes perfect sense. But here's where it gets interesting: on those 30 km/h urban roads, cyclists can now ride against traffic during jams, as long as they stick to the centre of the lane and keep 1.5 metres away from cars.
And come 2025, groups of cyclists will be allowed to ride side by side across two lanes, though they still need to hug the right side.
You need to slow down, check the road ahead is clear and then cross into the opposite lane (partially or fully) to give cyclists that crucial 1.5 metres of space. Break this rule and you're looking at a €200 fine and losing six points off your license.
There's even talk of letting motorcycles use hard shoulders during traffic jams in the future, though speeds would be capped at 30 km/h and they'd have to give way to emergency vehicles.
But wait, there’s more, and we have a feeling most people will be please about this one. Electric scooter owners, your free ride is coming to an end!
This one's been a long time coming, really. We've all seen those accidents where someone gets hurt and the scooter rider has no insurance, leaving everyone in a right mess. Some owners have ended up facing massive compensation claims or even declaring bankruptcy because they had to pay out of their own pockets.
The new law covers what they're calling ‘light personal vehicles’ – basically electric scooters that weigh under 25 kilos and can do between 6 and 25 km/h. Though let's be honest, we've all seen those souped-up scooters flying past at 60 km/h with two people on board, which definitely isn't what the rules had in mind!
The bottom line? Spain's roads are getting safer rules and frankly, with the number of accidents we see every year, these changes can't come soon enough. It's all about making sure everyone gets home in one piece, whether they're on two wheels or four.
Murcia
Just when we thought the summer heat couldn't get any worse, Mother Nature decided to throw lightning into the mix, sparking multiple wildfires across Murcia that had emergency crews racing around the Region like something out of an action movie.
The Cieza fires hit both the Almorchón mountain range and the Herrada area, keeping five forestry brigades busy at the Rambla del Cárcavo. Meanwhile in Abarán, flames spread rapidly through the Médica ravine after lightning struck Sierra del Oro, with the fire visible from the town's health centre. Eight forestry brigades and two helicopters managed to get it under control by evening, thankfully with no damage to people or property.
The Sierra de la Puerta fire between Moratalla and Caravaca was another headache, damaging pine trees across more than 300 metres before firefighters could stabilise it. The Mayor of Caravaca was quick to thank the emergency services for preventing what could have been a major disaster.
The culprit behind much of this chaos? Something called a ‘thermal burst’ where descending air hits the ground and spreads out in violent wind gusts. Add lightning to the mix and you've got the perfect recipe for wildfire mayhem.
While fires were raging in the countryside, another kind of crisis has been quietly burning through people's wallets in the rental market. If you thought finding affordable housing was tough before, prepare to have your mind blown by the latest figures.
The worst hit? Mazarrón, where rents have exploded by a jaw-dropping 162% in four years. An 80 square metre place there now costs nearly €1,500 a month. Los Alcázares isn't far behind with an 83.4% increase, followed by Águilas at 79.35%.
Even the "cheaper" options aren't exactly bargain basement anymore. Cartagena's seen a 34.3% rise, San Javier 36.2% and San Pedro del Pinatar 46.9%. That still puts an 80 square metre home between €664 and €765 per month depending on location.
The really heartbreaking part? Young people are getting absolutely hammered by these prices. Many are having to spend more than 90% of their income just to rent a whole property and even a single room in a shared flat eats up more than a third of their salary.
It's no wonder only 14.3% of people aged 16 to 29 are managing to live independently, down more than 6% from last year.
The silver lining, if you can call it that, is that Murcia is still the fifth most affordable region in Spain for rentals. But when you consider that three out of four renters nationwide can't save for a house deposit according to the Bank of Spain, even being "affordable" doesn't feel like much consolation.
Running from September 19-28, this isn't just any old local fiesta, it's an International Tourist Interest event that attracts more than 200,000 visitors every year.
Think of it as the ultimate historical re-enactment where residents pick sides between Carthaginian troops and Roman legions, complete with 25 troops on each side led by historical figures like Hannibal and Publius Cornelius Scipio.
The whole thing recreates the period from 227 BC when the city was founded as Qart-Hadast through to 209 BC when the Romans conquered it.
The ten days are packed with dramatic recreations including the founding of the city, Hannibal's wedding, mysterious oracle rituals and culminating in an epic sea battle in the port followed by the conquest of the city. There are cavalry charges, catapults, gladiators and enough spectacle to make Hollywood jealous.
But it's not all serious historical drama. The whole city turns into one massive party with an encampment where festivities go on into the early hours, arts and crafts markets and restaurants doing a roaring trade.
It's living history meets the best fiesta you've ever been to and honestly, if you've never experienced it, you're missing out on something truly special.
See our EVENTS DIARY for more events and activities coming up soon in the Region of Murcia:
Spain
Spain has been battling an absolute nightmare of wildfires for two weeks straight, with flames devouring over 115,000 hectares, forcing thousands from their homes and tragically claiming several lives.
Castilla y León has been hit the hardest, with more than 20 active fires burning across Zamora, León, Salamanca and Ávila. Nine of these have reached level 2, Spain's highest risk category, and the blaze that started in Cipérez has become the largest fire on record for Salamanca.
Meanwhile in Extremadura, the Jarilla fire has consumed around 11,000 hectares and forced evacuations in Gargantilla while residents of Hervás are stuck indoors.
Regional Minister Abel Bautista summed up the situation pretty starkly: "We don't have the capacity to extinguish 70% of the fire; it's in the hands of weather conditions."
The Spanish Navy has jumped into action in an unexpected way, sending around 100 marines from Cádiz to help with firefighting and surveillance operations. Through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, Spain has welcomed support from the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Slovakia, including Dutch Chinooks with 7,000-litre capacity, a Slovak Black Hawk, two Italian Canadair aircraft and ground units with up to 60 personnel.
Speaking from Jarilla in Cáceres, he promised that "once the fires are extinguished and the economic impact known, the government will contribute to reconstruction with state resources."
He's linking the increasing severity of wildfires directly to climate change, pointing out that the recent heatwave was the longest recorded since 1975.
Since the fire season began on June 1, the authorities have made 27 arrests for suspected arson and are investigating 97 more individuals.
This means you can get settled and start your business right away instead of dealing with separate bureaucratic hoops.
The process covers anyone aged 16 or over who wants to engage in self-employed activity in Spain. You'll need the usual visa documents like passport photos, criminal record checks, medical certificates and proof of financial means, plus specific self-employment paperwork including a business plan detailing your planned investment and expected income.
Applications go through Spanish Visa Application Centres in your home country, with decisions typically taking up to four months. Once approved, you get a one-year visa and have three months to register with Social Security after arriving in Spain.
Minister Óscar López described the results as "spectacular," and the numbers keep getting better.
Initially, around 235,600 calls and 10,000 text messages were being intercepted daily. After new security measures were introduced in June and July, those figures shot up dramatically.
Now 434,915 calls and around 18,666 scam SMS messages are being filtered out each day. That's an increase of 85% in blocked calls and 87% in stopped messages.
The system works by blocking calls and SMS messages from unassigned or empty numbers, cutting off one of scammers' favourite tricks. International calls pretending to originate from Spain are automatically blocked too, except when made by roaming customers.
Looking ahead, Spain is preparing a verified database of names and codes for trusted organisations like banks and public bodies, making it much easier to check if a call or message is genuine. The National Commission of Markets and Competition is set to oversee this system by 2026.
Alicante
Penniless and imprisoned is probably not how notorious Irish gangster John Gilligan would have imagined he would be spending his twilight years.
However, friends reportedly say he is "washed up" and broke, unable to pay his legal fees accumulated during numerous court proceedings.
Recent leaked WhatsApp texts circulating in Spain and Ireland plead for donations to cover his bail, with messages urging, " John helped loads in his life and now he needs help money wise, no amount too small."
Currently behind bars at Fontcalent prison in Alicante, he is on remand following his arrest in December at a two-bedroom apartment in Orihuela Costa.
The National Police Drugs and Organised Crime unit (UDYCO) discovered a large-scale “pink cocaine” laboratory on the premises, believed to have produced drugs worth €8 million, following a long surveillance operation with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
Gilligan’s long career of crime went from warehouse heists to drugs, and he has long been suspected of involvement in the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.
After 17 years in prison in Ireland for smuggling cannabis, he moved to Spain in 2013, where his family owned a pub in Orihuela Costa at the time.
Reportedly broke at the time, his attempts to regain his fortune through drugs have repeatedly been foiled by Spanish cops.
Gilligan has already been handed a 22-month suspended prison sentence by a Spanish Court, for using a courier service to smuggle cannabis and prescription drugs into Ireland, which is likely to be enforced if he is convicted again.
A British couple may have briefly thought they were on cloud nine as they noisily got it on in a budget airplane toilet, but they were brought back down to earth with a bump when they were met by police after landing at Alicante.
Passengers were reportedly mortified by the antics of the drunken, thirty-something pair, especially since there were many families with children on board to hear their grunts and groans.
Cabin crew were already at the end of their tether, after their attempts to get them both to stop drinking alcohol were vehemently rebuffed and the woman announced they were going to join the ‘mile-high club’, according to witnesses.
Things got even more uncomfortable when the woman allegedly said she was feeling sick, tried to vomit into a bin liner and then almost knocked over a child as she ran to the bathroom, then demanded her lover come to her aid.
After they ignored a stewardess insisting that they stop their antics in the toilet, the pilot was informed and their trip did not have a happy ending.
Speaking of getting laid, ridding Torrevieja of stray poultry is proving harder than expected, since a company selected by the council chickened out of taking the job.
A few years ago, the town hall hatched a plan to rid the town’s public spaces of hens and roosters.
Council workers counted their chickens, and found over 700 of them wandering around local parks, gardens and streets.
Councillor for Animal Welfare Concha Sala said these creatures posed a danger to themselves and others, particularly when they, inevitably, cross the roads.
However, the company which placed the successful bid for the public contract claimed not to have realised they were supposed to arrange for an animal sanctuary to look after the birds for the rest of their natural lives, and decided the fee it would earn was chicken feed.
Now the council will now have to offer the contract to the seven other companies that vied for the contract, in the hope that one of them feels plucky enough to take on the job and gets cracking.
If all else fails, the council’s only hope may be an eggsorcism.
And finally, and by this we do mean at last, the closed off section of the Orihuela Costa cliff path has been reopened to the public after a two decade-long dispute with residents who insisted it belonged to their urbanisation.
It is not clear exactly what they were doing with this tiny, 140 square-metre strip of land overlooking the sea that made them insist it was valuable enough to demand almost a million euros in compensation.
A previous council thought they had settled the matter in 2015, when it demolished the walls blocking off the path for lacking a municipal licence.
The residents thought they had the last laugh, when they successfully appealed on a technicality and the path was closed again in 2021.
But in the end, the current local government successfully managed to forcibly expropriate the land for an infinitely smaller sum of only €26,000, and finally tore down the walls and gates on Tuesday.
As a result, everyone else who lives in and visits Orihuela Costa will no longer have to take a 15-minute detour around the urbanisation just to complete the coastal walk between Cabo Roig and Aguamarina.
As the president of Unidos por la Costa, a residents’ association for all of Orihuela Costa commented, the expropriation “is definitive and there is no way back”.
Andalucía
This week brings promising news for drivers and businesses travelling between Andalucía and Murcia, as the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has greenlit a significant €2.36 million upgrade of the N-342 highway.
Stretching from Jerez de la Frontera in Cádiz province all the way to Puerto Lumbreras on the Andalucía-Murcia border, this 15.7km section will benefit from a new surface made using recycled materials and sustainable asphalt.
The route is vital for daily traffic including about 80 heavy vehicles transporting farm and livestock products, linking with major roads like the A-91 and Mediterranean Highway.
This modernisation is part of the EFAPAVES programme, Spanish government initiative aimed at renovating and improving road surfaces across the country using sustainable and recycled materials and therefore aiming for safer, longer-lasting roads with a smaller carbon footprint.
With the last fatal accident on this road occurring in June 2023, these upgrades will improve safety and environmental standards, with completion expected by mid-2026.
For locals and industries alike, this means a more reliable, greener journey on a road that is central to their daily lives.
Switching gears to the coast, a brief moment of chaos hit La Luna Beach in Calahonda, Mijas last week when a runaway jet ski zoomed dangerously close to holidaymakers, causing a scramble to safety. A young man was thrown off the jet ski just before it accelerated towards the shore, narrowly missing bathers.
Thanks to quick action by lifeguards and police, the driver, who tried to escape, was identified and penalised for reckless behaviour, though thankfully no injuries were reported. This incident adds to growing concerns in Málaga province, where four jet ski fatalities have occurred since July 2023. The scare has reignited debate about how close jet skis should be allowed to operate near busy bathing areas.
Many observers questioned the safety measures in place, with one beachgoer asking, “What’s a jet ski doing less than 15 metres from the beach?” Others suggested the sudden burst could have been caused by a snagged cable, pointing out that “anyone can make a mistake.” The incident certainly serves as a reminder that rigorous safety enforcement is still needed to protect beachgoers along the Costa del Sol.
From seaside panic to a more serious and somber event inland, Granada witnessed the deliberate setting of fire to the Santiago Apóstol church in the El Pozuelo neighbourhood of Albuñol on Sunday August 17.
A foreign man locked himself inside before igniting the blaze, which caused serious damage to the church’s interior and injured some people who tried to intervene.
The Archdiocese of Granada expressed deep regret and strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an intentional act that harmed Christian sentiments and caused significant material damage. They also thanked the Guardia Civil and firefighters for their swift and brave response. Authorities have taken the suspect into custody and are investigating the motives behind this troubling act.
The incident has understandably shaken the local community. It raises concerns about the protection of cultural and religious heritage, and the importance of thorough law enforcement to ensure such places remain safe and respected.
Finally, Andalucía’s ports are bustling this summer with a cruise surge led by Málaga and Cádiz.
These two hubs handle more than 70% of the region’s cruise ship arrivals, with Málaga expecting 19 calls and just over 44,000 passengers this August. This represents a 7.5% increase on the same month last year and reinforces the port’s position as a key Mediterranean destination.
Cádiz is also keeping pace, planning over 20 dockings during August with a strong passenger turnout likely to break records set last year.
Other ports around the region, including Almería, Motril, and Seville, are also contributing to a busy cruise season, each welcoming ships and tourists and supporting local tourism economies.
The cruise activity this summer highlights Andalucía as a vibrant and sought-after spot on international itineraries, bringing in visitors and business during a critical time. The regional boost in tourism offers optimism for continued economic benefits linked to the maritime sector.
From major eco-friendly road improvements through coastal safety dramas and serious cultural challenges to a summer cruise boom, Andalucía continues to deliver a vibrant mix of news that reflects both its dynamic communities and evolving landscape.
You may have missed…
- UK law slashes porn site views - could Spain be next?
The United Kingdom has just rolled out a tough new rule aimed at keeping children away from online pornography. At the end of July, the country introduced a pioneering law that forces adult websites to check whether users are over 18 before they can view explicit material.
- Explore 1,200 years of Murcia with new guided tours this autumn.
To mark the 1,200th anniversary of Murcia’s founding, the Ayunatamiento is rolling out a special programme of guided tours this autumn.
- New taxiway to boost Alicante Airport capacity by 2028.
It’s just been confirmed that Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport will gain a new taxiway by 2028, a project aimed at increasing its capacity to handle more flights. Airport operator Aena has awarded works worth €13 million to construction firm Pavasal, with work set to begin at the start of next year.
- Bird found injured on Malaga runway causes delays for British flights
Several flights faced unexpected delays at Malaga Airport late Sunday night after a large, injured bird was found on the runway. The bird, believed to be a flamingo, was spotted on runway 31 shortly before 10.00 p.m., causing air traffic controllers to impose temporary restrictions on manoeuvres to ensure safety.
- Number of illegal immigrants arriving in Murcia cut in half
The number of irregular migrants reaching the coast of Murcia has been cut in half this summer, although most of the small boats or pateras that set out still manage to land.
And that’s all we’ve got for you this week. Thanks for reading and don't forget, we'll be back to you on Friday September 12.
Happy weekend
Rents on the Murcian coast have absolutely skyrocketed by more than 70% since 2021. We're now talking about an average of €918 per month for an 80 square metre home in coastal areas. To put that in perspective, you're looking at €11.47 per square metre, which means a modest 100 square metre property will set you back more than €1,100 monthly.
