Sun still shining for luxury tourism in Spain
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E-mail CNTV, September 23, 2013
Despite the continuing economic crisis across much of the eurozone, the sun is continuing to shine on luxury tourism in Spain. A record number of foreign tourists visited Spain this summer, welcome news for a country mired in recession and mass unemployment.
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Despite the continuing economic crisis across much of the eurozone, the sun is continuing to shine on luxury tourism in Spain. |
Welcome to the Costa del Sol, one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe.
This 160 kilometre strip of sand is the place where tourists from countless countries and across the social spectrum gather to spend a few days in the hot Spanish sun.
From what Malaga and Torremolinos locals call the "spaghetti and chips brigade" to the rich, old and "nouveau" in Marbella, there is something to suit all budgets and tastes on Spain's most famous coastline.
In 2012, local authorities in Andalucia began a strategy called "Elite Collection" designed to lure the super-rich to their shores.
The area in and around Marbella now offers dozens of luxury hotels, beach clubs, limousine rentals and private aircraft companies. The rich and beautiful flock to the town of Puerto Banus.
In this marina luxury yachts float by, just next to the main street.
Edi Koubers, holidaymaker, said, "We don't feel the crisis here. I think Puerto Banus is a world within a world. We were also in Portugal and there we saw the crisis. Here in Spain you don't see it as much as over there".
Despite looking like an old fishing town, Puerto Banus is a relatively new resort dating back just over 40 years.
In the 1970's, Marbella began a spectacular growth as a tourist destination and began attracting the super-rich to this area.
Now, dozens of luxury boutiques and shops around the marina area do good business all year round.
Mylne Giglio, manager of Cartier store, said, "Our clients have always maintained the same purchasing power, regardless of the crisis. Every time they want to treat themselves they come straight to our shop".
But the impact of luxury tourism in the region can be best seen in the spectacular development of real estate and sales over the past three decades.
The Spanish real estate bubble may have burst, but here in Marbella it's business as usual for those wanting to buy or rent a luxury villa.
Meanwhile, the calm and transparent waters of the Mediterranean make the ideal place for sailing. So despite economic difficulties, it seems that luxury tourism is still making waves in Spain.
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