Spain's Costa del Sol is becoming like a "ghost town" due to the new 90 day Brexit visa rule, one British expat has warned.
Bruce King owns a house in Nerja, a popular and pretty coastal town on Spain's Costa del Sol.
Mr King said the beautiful Spanish region was in real trouble thanks to a combination of Brexit rules and the impact of Covid.
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Sun-seekers flock to destinations in Spain including Costa del Sol, Torremolinos, Marbella and Nerja every year to enjoy the region's beautiful beaches.
However, Mr King told the Express : "I have never ever seen Nerja so quiet. Bars, shops, hotels closed. A lot forever.
"They need the Brits to carry the businesses through the winter."
While Covid has undoubtedly had an impact on tourist resorts, Bruce said he believes there’s another reason the resort is suffering.
Bruce told Express.co.uk : "One of the main reasons the coast is in trouble is the so-called 90 day rule for us Brits.
"Whereas the Europeans can come to the UK for 180 days, which is a crazy situation.
"We still have a house in the beautiful town of Nerja. The swallows, as they are known, are just not here."
Britons who travel to Spain for the warm weather in the winter are sometimes known as "swallows."
Before Brexit, many British people spent four or five months in Spain over winter without needing Spanish residency.
While British people can stay in the EU for 90 out of every 180 days, EU citizens can stay in Britain for six months without a visa.
Bruce said: "Apart from the Covid restrictions, people just don't want to come anymore for 90 days.
"Maybe they will come in the summer for three weeks but that will not sustain all the bars here.
"We used to come for the winter period to avoid the cold. We arrived here as usual at the end of November to take us through to March.
"The Brits spend a lot of money here on buildings and services. We spent £20,000 on a conversion.
"Now we wonder if it was worth it. Nerja is one of the most popular resorts on the coast and sadly unless the EU changes its policy, it will die."
Nerja has a population of just over 20,000, an idyllic Old Town and access to many stunning beaches.
Nerja isn't the only Spanish resort to be suffering from a lack of international tourists this winter.
Visitors to the resort area of Benalmádena Costa have likened it to a "ghost town" with many closed up bars and restaurants.
Meanwhile, the local Government in Spain’s Costa Blanca has called for the 90 day rule to be extended to six months.
It is hoped that an extension would encourage British "swallows" to return to Spain for the winter season.
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