Manuel Gavira, Andalusia’s second vice president and regional minister for Tourism, Justice, Deregulation and Local Administration, said the San Diego Comic-Con Málaga would bring “more returns and opportunities” for the region and its businesses. The convention is holding its second edition from October 1 to 4. He said it could attract visitors and encourage them to extend their trips around Andalusia, creating new tourism flows.
Gavira said major events should help redirect tourism, distribute its benefits and balance activity between territories, with the aim of generating opportunities across Andalusia. He said the region can and should compete for major international events, citing its capacity and the distinct identity of its territories. He also said the convention links tourism with audiovisual production, video games, comics and the creative economy, with activity extending to hotels, restaurants, shops and streets. The previous edition generated an estimated €44.3 million in economic impact.
Gavira said Tourism of Andalusia had strengthened its commitment to the event, adding that this should result in a better experience for visitors, who could also enjoy the destination’s culture, food, heritage and way of life.
José Antonio Nieto, the regional minister for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Development and Public Administration, said Comic-Con Málaga was not only a place to celebrate stories but also a space where future stories could be designed, developed and programmed. He said Andalusia wanted a leading role and cited 107 specialized video-game studios, 17 training centers linked to the sector and 13% of Spain’s video-game industry employment in the region.
Nieto said the shared challenge was to ensure that local talent did not remain “an unfinished story.” He said the government wanted to help creators turn ideas into businesses, access financing, reach international markets and create skilled jobs in Andalusia. Through the Andalusia Digital Agency and the Misión Andalucía initiative, he said, the government was working to establish Comic-Con as a professional platform and to help remove obstacles for the sector.
At Thursday’s presentation, organizers announced the convention’s final program and latest updates. More than 300 hours of entertainment and pop-culture programming will be held at the Málaga Trade Fair and Congress Centre, including activities and talks, appearances by film and television professionals, board and role-playing games, miniatures, video games, manga and anime, animation and comics.
The convention’s second official poster was also unveiled. It was created by Romita Jr., who will attend Artists’ Alley alongside Helen Chen, the artist behind the other official poster, to meet fans.