Starlite Catalana Occidente festival brought the curtain down on its summer season yesterday as Marbella mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, praised the positive impact that the music festival has had on Marbella

Consulting firm PwC reported that this year’s festival was attended by more than 360,000 people, generated €315 million and created 6,450 jobs. Among the 63 concerts this year were performances from Andrea Bocelli, Luis Fonsi and Diana Ross

Muñoz highlighted “the strength of the Starlite Catalana Occidente festival, which together with the Marbella image, has achieved a spectacular economic impact in the city, Andalusia and Spain”.

The mayor added “That is why I want to express my admiration for entrepreneurs such as Sandra García Sanjuán (president of the festival) and Ignacio Maluquer (president of the Starlite Group) for their commitment to Marbella, with a complex project that, even despite the pandemic, they kept open”.

Muñoz also revealed that negotiations were ongoing to extend the concession of the festival site beyond 2027 for a much longer period”.