Dep. Legal MA-422-2006 - ISSN 2953-42536
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More cruise business for 2026.
phasised the stability this expansion brings, stating it “helps spread tourism across the year, and ensures steady support for local commerce and employment.” Each cruise call creates direct jobs for more than 90 people, meaning the increased volume will generate hundreds of new
roles in hospitality, guiding, and logistics. Motril’s growing appeal to premium and luxury cruise lines attracts affluent visitors eager to explore the area. An impressive 63 per cent of passengers explore the city itself, boosting local shops, restaurants, and cultural sites. Others venture
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to the beaches of the Costa Tropical, the Alpujarra, or nearby Granada. With this major, sustained growth, Tuesday, January 1, 2026, marks the start of a year brimming with job creation and shared prosperity for Motril’s residents and entrepreneurs.
NERJA Council is going to deliver festive cheer to vulnerable families this Christmas through its annual hamper distribution programme with the help of the local community. The Social Services Department plans to deliver 60 hampers to households facing economic and social hardship in Nerja and Maro. This year’s initiative is a little more special than in previous years due to direct collaboration with two prominent local groups: the Association of Presidents of Urbanisation Communities in Nerja (APCUM) and the Almijara Bowls Club. Both organisations have fully funded and packed the 60 hampers paid for largely from donations from their generous members, filling them with non-perishable foods, traditional Christmas sweets, preserves, and cured meats. The popular Almijara Bowls Club, a hub and tireless charity association from the expatriate community, has shown particular generosity and initiative in supporting the effort. As for how many families will benefit, in previous years, numbers varied according to need. Last year, 75 hampers were distributed, while during the Covid pandemic and recovery period from 2020 to 2022, distributions reached 110 or more, often with additional backing from organisations such as the La Caixa Foundation. This partnership marks a new level of involvement from the expatriate and urbanisation communities, strengthening local solidarity. The project underscores Nerja’s commitment to ensuring the holiday spirit reaches every home, highlighting how council and resident cooperation can make a tangible difference.
Credit: AVOI FB
Magical moments IN a heartwarming display of compassion, Malaga’s Materno Infantil Hospital transformed the sterile paediatric facilities into a magical recreation of the iconic Calle Larios Christmas lights, to bring the joy of the season directly to hospitalised children and their families. The 2025 festive intervention, unveiled on the first floor of the Paediatrics ward, was more than mere decoration - it symbolically transported Malaga’s holiday glow inside the hospital walls to humanise the challenging stays of young patients. Thanks to a heartfelt collaboration between a local school, the hospital, and the Children’s cancer charity, AVOI, the space became an immersive street scene. Illuminated columns, handmade reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh, a glowing angel figure, and a cosy San-
Almijara Bowls Club for Christmas.
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Lights switch on in children’s ward. ta’s house awaited the children, who walked the path hand-in-hand with nurses and loved ones. A towering 5.5-metre Christmas tree anchored the entrance hall, while staff and volunteers sang traditional carols, echoing the festive tunes the Christmas displays in the centre.
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Giving and gratitude
Credit - Sven Hansche / Shutterstock
THE port of Motril is anticipating a historic breakthrough in its cruise industry for 2026, with a confirmed schedule of 69 ship calls and projections of more than 120,000 passengers arriving on the Costa Tropical. This figure nearly doubles the port’s current record, promising a significant wave of economic growth and new employment opportunities across Motril and the surrounding region. Following an exceptional 2025 that generated over €7 million in economic activity, officials forecast 2026 could see up to €11 million in direct passenger spending. When factoring in supporting services, such as ship provisioning and local transport, the total impact could exceed €20 million. Port Authority President José García Fuentes em-
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Cruise coup
Axarquia • No. 2111 • 18 - 24 Dec 2025
“This was by and for the children,” said designer José Páez, explaining the goal of turning the hospital into a home for Christmas. In this shared effort, Christmas didn’t erase the hospital’s reality - it gently accompanied it, wrapping fragile young hearts in light and love.
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