The Perfect Place for a Home Away from Home
During a year highlighted by such unexpected phenomenon as Brexit, and now a Trump presidency, the Costa del Sol has been able to sit back and happily bask in two certainties. In the first place, the property market’s recovery has been confirmed as rock-solid; and second, the area has welcomed record numbers of tourists. The two developments are closely intertwined, with many holidaymakers becoming so enamoured with the Coast that they decide to buy a second home or even move here permanently.
Of course, industry representatives are also acutely aware that this does not mean they can rest on their laurels, a fact made patently clear during the recently concluded World Travel Market in London.
Speaking during the market, the Andalucian government’s minister for tourism, Francisco Javier Fernández, said record foreign tourism figures in 2016 showed that Britons had renewed confidence in the destination and a high degree of loyalty when it came to repeating their holidays in the region. In short, they considered it to be their second home away from home.
According to Fernández, tour operators stressed that Andalucía – including its flagship tourist area the Costa del Sol – needed to continue focusing on and specialising in complementary options to sun and beach: for example, cultural, gastronomic and nature tourism, a view fully shared by the government as part of its “beach plus” strategy.
To that end, he said, the tourism ministry was promoting the region as a global destination “open all year” and able to offer a wide diversity of attractions, amenities and experiences – as well as an excellent relationship between quality and price, superb weather and reassuring security. Fernández noted that in 2015, 46.5 per cent of British tourists holidaying in the region had visited the year before.
Also present at the market was Elías Bendodo, president of Costa del Sol Tourism, who described British travellers as the “soul” of the Coast’s tourism industry. He said one of the key factors appealing to Britons was the “high degree of connectivity” with the Costa del Sol: including direct flights to 18 British cities and 22 airports, and a 25 increase in aircraft seats available from November to next April compared with the same period earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Richard Speigal, head of research at the Kyero website told OPP Today, “Unfortunately it’s almost impossible to pick apart exactly how many tourists become foreign buyers, but there are indicators. People buy property in Spain for many reasons – for relocation, second homes, as buy-to-let investments or for retirement. Whichever way that journey begins, we do know there’s a correlation between inbound tourism and house sales.
“We think smartphones probably have an intriguing role in this: when you fall in love with a place, you’re now only a click away from finding a home there. Around half our traffic from within Spain over the summer came from English devices. We have no doubt many of those searches were made from a sun lounger!”
Where’s Banderas!
Málaga’s favourite son, Antonio Banderas, has been busy filming “Stoic” in Bulgaria with Paz Vega but it hasn’t been entirely uneventful. Posting this photo on Instagram, he wrote, “Action movies are exciting and sometimes dangerous... and my eye is the best showcase! (You should had seen the other guy's face.)”
Luxury Living
When it comes to connectivity, Benalmádena is right in the heart of the Costa del Sol and just a short convenient drive from the airport. The stunning villa featured is part of The Bay Collection located in the exclusive Reserva del Higuerón area and priced at an excellent €2,300,000.
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