The Secretary General of the PSOE in Málaga, Josele Aguilar, has announced that the Nerja cave has undergone "the greatest transformation and modernisation in its history" during the last eight years under the government of Pedro Sánchez. Speaking at a press conference outside the natural monument, alongside the PSOE spokesperson in the Provincial Council, Josele González, and the Secretary General of the PSOE in Nerja, Patricia Gutiérrez, Aguilar praised the management of the site and urged for the continuation of this model following the general elections on 29 November.
Aguilar noted that in 2025, the Nerja cave welcomed over 530,000 visitors, representing a 22% increase compared to pre-pandemic figures. Key improvements included enhanced access, the opening of a virtual reality room that has attracted more than 500,000 visitors, and the construction of an auditorium with a capacity for 3,000 spectators, which has allowed the outdoor hosting of the Music Festival.
He highlighted that the Foundation's revenues have reached €8.6 million, enabling further investments in research, innovation, and the protection of natural heritage. "This is what is at stake on 29 November: continuing to advance projects like that of the Nerja cave, which prioritises quality tourism, heritage, research, and innovation," Aguilar stated. He advocated for extending this model to other municipalities in the province that require support to develop tourism initiatives, asserting, "We must continue to push forward and not go backwards."
Josele González, the PSOE spokesperson in the Provincial Council, called on the Junta de Andalucía and the provincial institution to meet the needs of a site that has surpassed 20 million visitors since its opening in 1960. He demanded that Moreno Bonilla fulfil his commitment to improve the Arco road and urged the Provincial Council to enhance provincial roads to facilitate bus access. González also called for better public transport connections throughout the Axarquía region. "The Nerja cave is a prime example of what can be achieved when administrations collaborate, even outside the Costa del Sol and major cities," he remarked.
Finally, Patricia Gutiérrez, Secretary General of the PSOE in Nerja, emphasised that the Spanish government's management has enabled the modernisation, digitisation, and conservation of the municipality's main heritage, benefiting residents of both Nerja and Maro. Gutiérrez called for improved connectivity between Maro and the Nerja cave and urged the Provincial Council to reactivate the Senda Litoral project, which remains incomplete in the municipality. "Maro is also part of the Costa del Sol and Nerja," she asserted, advocating for the path to extend to this district rather than ending at the Balcón de Europa.
