A positive balance has been made of the Mijas Secrets cultural guided visits programme, which has been running since last Easter. This initiative aimed at foreign residents of Mijas and the province of Malaga was born during the mobility restrictions, and after the great reception of the first routes, it has been extended until June. Last Thursday the 17th it was announced that the programme will return in September, as confirmed by the councillor for Foreigners, Arancha López (Cs).

“The degree of satisfaction with this programme is very high, both on the part of the residents and the collaborating businesses in the village. More than 200 foreign residents have attended the different calls. Here they have been able to discover secrets of Mijas, which until then, despite having lived here for many years, they did not know”, said López.

Objectives met

According to the Department for Tourism, these visits have met two very clear objectives, “on the one hand, that tourists who came to Mijas Pueblo could provide a little economic activity that has been paralyzed by the issue of COVID-19 and, secondly, for us to attract proximity tourism as a new element that is to be added to the rest of the tourist activities offered in our municipality”, assured the head of Tourism, José Carlos Martín (Cs).

In total, more than 200 people have participated in the 21 cultural tours, offered in up to six languages. The visits organised by Mijas Secrets have revealed anecdotes, places and stories little known by the resident and local population. Therefore, the routes have focused on culture, water paths, local crafts, the Arab influence in the municipality, Holy Week or Mijas yesterday and today. The good news is that it has already been announced that the programme will return in September.

According to one of its co-founders, Sandra Gallardo, “the initiative has served to cover a new need that arose due to the restrictions of the pandemic. It is a response to a changing trend in tourism and in our visiting habits. What the participants liked the most was delving into very specific and little-known aspects of Mijas. These routes have had more impact on the local economy since the resident who lives here is also the one who buys here”.

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