{
  "id": 14976301,
  "title": "Alicante-Elche closes in on a record year: how the Costa Blanca is keeping British visitors coming long after the summer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/alicante-elche-closes-in-on-a-record-year-how-the-costa-blanca-is",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T14:56:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Leader",
    "slug": "the-leader",
    "url": "https://theleader.info/2026/10/16/alicante-elche-closes-in-on-a-record-year-how-the-costa-blanca-is-keeping-british-visitors-coming-long-after-the-summer/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Alicante-Elche Airport is on track to see its busiest year ever, with British travelers remaining the largest group by a significant margin. What sets this trend apart from previous years is the shift in when British visitors choose to travel, opting for October, November and even the winter months instead of just the July and August peak. This change in timing significantly impacts the province of Alicante, as it heavily relies on tourism revenue. While visitors continue to flock to the Costa Blanca for beach activities once the summer season ends, their interests quickly shift to golf, coastal walks, local markets and long lunches. With shorter daylight hours, many British guests find themselves indoors more often, using their devices for streaming, live football and online casino play. A major factor in British visitors' continued interest in the Costa Blanca is the abundance of direct flights connecting Alicante with regional airports across the UK, with journey times typically lasting around three hours or less. Mild temperatures during the winter months make it an attractive destination for golf, hiking and leisurely promenade walks. The presence of a settled British community, including clubs, pubs and English-speaking services, also plays a crucial role in encouraging repeat visits. Digital habits, such as online casino play through platforms like echoslots, are now part of the winter visitor's routine, alongside streaming, live sport and television. With a growing number of UK residents staying for extended periods, the Costa Blanca is experiencing a new level of year-round demand. Increased flight frequencies and expanded routes, including Ryanair's service to Catania from October 25, will further boost visitor numbers. As the Costa Blanca prepares for a busy and varied winter season, British travelers will continue to rely on their digital devices to enhance their stay, complementing outdoor activities with indoor entertainment.",
  "summary": "Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is heading for the busiest year in its history, and the traffic has not eased with the end of the school holidays. British travellers remain the largest group by a distance, and a growing share of them now book October, November and the winter months rather than waiting for the July […] The post Alicante-Elche closes in on a record year: how the Costa…",
  "key_points": [
    "Alicante-Elche Airport on track for busiest year ever",
    "British visitors shift travel to October-November and winter months",
    "Direct flights and mild winter temperatures attract British tourists"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Olive Press",
        "title": "Dutch cyclist collapses and dies while climbing demanding Sa Creueta mountain pass on Spain’s Costa Blanca",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/dutch-cyclist-collapses-and-dies-while-climbing-demanding-sa-creueta",
        "published": "2026-10-16T11:29:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euro Weekly News",
        "title": "Costa Blanca town records lowest unemployment in 20 years as jobless rate falls to 6.68%",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/costa-blanca-town-records-lowest-unemployment-in-20-years-as-jobless",
        "published": "2026-10-16T14:41:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}