While Andalucía’s tourism board still targets traditional markets like Britain, France, Germany and Scandinavia to promote the region as one of Europe’s prime holiday spots, increasingly countries like China and Russia are also being included in the marketing campaign.
Increased numbers of tourists from China and Russia have already born fruit in the Costa del Sol real estate market, as buyers from those countries come for a holiday, see the region’s potential and return to snap up property bargains for investment purposes or simply buy a holiday home for their families.
Interestingly, the tourism board also aims to diversify their efforts into promoting sustainable tourism as well as inland tourism and encouraging off-peak travel, which would help to reduce Spain’s high unemployment figures. Inland travel into the province of Malaga or to the province of Granada, just less than a 2 hours’ drive away, is also becoming more popular as activity based holidays gain in interest among young holidaymakers who are health conscious.
Tour operators offering hiking, climbing, canyoning, pony-trekking, skiing, mountain biking and paragliding holidays are winning more and more customers every year. They often prefer to stay in apartments or villas with self-catering options rather than in hotels and this is also having a positive effect on the property market, both at the Costa del Sol and further inland.
While the traditional resorts of Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola, Mijas, Benalmadena, Torremolinos and Nerja for example still attract a certain fun-loving, night-clubbing crowd, traditional country fincas that have been converted into self-catering villas or apartments are also seeing a revival, especially where owners are offering “themed” holidays such as pet-friendly accommodation, organic working farm holidays or tuition in writing, painting or other self-improvement or wellness related themes.
Prices for hotel and self-catering accommodation are as varied as the asking prices for Costa del Sol property. While the current economic crises has seen a number of 4 and 5-star hotels close their doors for good and has forced many guesthouse and B&B owner to close for far longer over the winter months, increase in tourist numbers from non-traditional markets may well change all that. October and November temperatures in Marbella or Nerja may be frowned upon by holidaymakers from Britain, France or Germany, but for travellers from the Baltic States or holidaymakers from Russia the climate is deemed to be mild and beneficial.
Marbella’s property market offers a huge variety for holidaymakers to fall in love with. After several visits to the Costa del Sol many tourists are tempted to find a more permanent arrangement for the accommodation needs. A 2-bedroomed, cosy apartment in El Rosario within walking distance of the beaches and located just on the outskirts of Marbella, but close to schools, restaurants, shops and all other amenities will typically cost around EUR 260,000 for a resale or second-hand luxury home.
A 3-bed, 2-bathroom apartment with access to a pool in a golf development in Nueva Andalucía will cost from EUR 340,000 and is located just a 3 minute drive from the famous Puerto Banus Marina complex. Given the price for a 2-week family holiday at a 4 or 5-star hotel, the maths soon works in favour of buying a holiday home for those who fall in love with the Costa del Sol and want to visit on a regular basis. Sales activity has seen a considerable upturn this year, despite prices still undergoing some adjustment.
Many people working in the tourist industry believe the face of tourism can’t change fast enough - with such a huge number of people finding only part-time and temporary employment during the summer months, sustainable growth of the sector must include an “all-year” approach and must include inland regions as well as the shoreline resorts.
According to the Institute of National Statistics, this year Marbella welcomed the highest number of tourists in five years, with a 12% increase in overnight stays being recorded for the summer. This was partly due to Northern European countries experiencing a spectacularly wet summer, and in parts due to the American First Lady Mrs Obama and her daughter visiting Marbella and drawing huge interest in their wake.