Less stays in owner properties says IET

June 6, 2011 – 8:43 am

Less owners staying in their own properties in Spain and Tenerife say IET

Visits to Spain by British owners fell by 17pc, whilst visits by German owners were down 11pc, reveals a new report by the government-sponsored Institute of Tourism Studies (IET).

The drop in the number of tourists staying in their own properties was much more pronounced than the fall in the number of hotel bookings, which, in the case of British tourists, were down just 0.6pc last year.

The study also found that British tourists staying in their own holiday-homes spent 55 Euros/day on average, compared to 111 Euros/day average for hotel guests. Spaniards staying in holiday-homes spent an average of 21 Euros/day.

30% of Spaniards stayed in holiday-homes in 2009, compared to just 8.6pc of foreign visitors.

Holiday-lettings also fell in 2010, -13.5pc in the case of British tourists, and 13.4pc in the case of Germans. Bad news for landlords on the coast.

The decline in the number of tourists staying in holiday-homes coupled with the crisis means that “the purchase of a holiday-home is at present far from a priority for the average family,” concludes the report

By Angela | Posted in Economy, General, Health, Holiday, Inspirational, Miscellaneous Articles, Property, Tenerife, Things to Do, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

British owners of holiday-homes in Spain paid far fewer visits last year, says a new study.

May 24, 2011 – 10:05 am

British visitors to second homes on Tenerife buck the trend in Spain

Visits to Spain by British owners fell by 17pc, whilst visits by German owners were down 11pc, reveals a new report by the government-sponsored Institute of Tourism Studies (IET).

The drop in the number of tourists staying in their own properties was much more pronounced than the fall in the number of hotel bookings, which, in the case of British tourists, were down just 0.6pc last year.

The study also found that British tourists staying in their own holiday-homes spent 55 Euros/day on average, compared to 111 Euros/day average for hotel guests. Spaniards staying in holiday-homes spent an average of 21 Euros/day.

30% of Spaniards stayed in holiday-homes in 2009, compared to just 8.6pc of foreign visitors.

Holiday-lettings also fell in 2010, -13.5pc in the case of British tourists, and 13.4pc in the case of Germans. Bad news for landlords on the coast.

The decline in the number of tourists staying in holiday-homes coupled with the crisis means that “the purchase of a holiday-home is at present far from a priority for the average family,” concludes the report.

However interest in prime property in Tenerife and the Canary Islands continues to increase and the second home visits seem to be bucking the trend of mainland Spain.

By Angela | Posted in Economy, General, Health, Holiday, Inspirational, Miscellaneous Articles, Property, Tenerife, Things to Do, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Tourism in Spain indicates property collapse may only be temporary

March 10, 2011 – 11:54 am

Tenerife and Spanish property slump may be temporary as tourism on the rise once more

Despite its economic woes, tourists are still flocking in their millions to Spain and Tenerife, indicating the current collapse in property values will more than likely only be temporary – last year the country recorded the highest number of hotel stays out of any country in Europe, according to EU statistics body Eurostat. It’s no surprise then that international hotel group Marriott has chosen Spain as the destination to launch its new Autograph brand onto the European market.

Launched successfully in the United States last year, Autograph represents the group’s entrance into the upscale boutique hotel market, following the success of the InterContinental Group’s similar boutique chain, Hotel Indigo. The four new hotels planned in the Spanish cities of Madrid, Granada and the ski resort of Baqueira in the Pyrenees will be constructed from refurbished heritage properties already owned by European hotel group AC Hotels.

Both the AC Santo Mauro and AC Palacio de Retiro hotels in Madrid have been converted from historic houses to 50-room boutique hotels, while the Granada property, AC Palacio de Santa Paula, was a former convent. If successful, Marriott will expand the quirky heritage-turned-modern hotel brand into Italy and Portugal over the next three years.

“We are thrilled to launch the Autograph Collection in Europe with such a dynamic and distinguished group of hotels”, said managing director of Marriott International Europe, Amy McPherson. “Each of these properties offers a truly unique guest experience and fits perfectly within the positioning of the Autograph Collection.”

As the first major hotel launch in Spain since the collapse of the property market plunged its economy into a national debt crisis, the presence of the new Autograph brand will boost both the country’s economy and its public image. With major hospitality brands like Marriott showing confidence in Spain again, the recovery of the property industry can’t be too far behind both on the mainland and in the Canary Islands.

By Angela | Posted in Economy, General, Health, Holiday, Inspirational, Miscellaneous Articles, Property, Tenerife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Tourists returning to Tenerife

June 28, 2010 – 6:24 pm
Tourists return to Tenerife as the pound increases in value against the Euro

Tourists return to Tenerife as the pound increases in value against the Euro

British tourists are being wooed back to the Continent with more for their money. As sterling rose this week against the euro to its highest level since December 2008, giving British travellers up to 10 per cent more for their money than last summer.

“Holidaymakers can now expect to get more for their pounds travelling to one of the Eurozone countries than anywhere else,” said Sarah Munro, head of travel money at the Post Office.

Given the continuing concern over the future of the euro, the pound could strengthen further, while reports suggest that hotels and restaurants on the Continent are attempting to attract holidaymakers by reducing prices.

“Our research also shows that prices have plummeted in some of the most popular resorts – especially in Spain and Portugal, where restaurants have slashed their prices,” Ms Munro said.

The total average cost of several holiday essentials, including drinks, sun cream and a meal in a local restaurant, has fallen by 42 per cent in the Algarve, for example, and by 40 per cent in Spain, according to the Post Office. Similar research released this week by Thomas Cook also suggested that mainland Spain offers particularly good value for visitors from Britain.

“Exchange rates have a huge impact on where Britons choose to travel,” said Francis Tuke, a spokeswoman for Abta, the travel association. “The weakening of the euro will undoubtedly encourage us to return to the Eurozone.”

She added that hotel prices had fallen in Spain during the past year and that travel companies expected rates to fall in Greece.

Cheapflights.co.uk, the price-comparison website, has reported that searches for flights to Eurozone destinations increased by 6 per cent during May compared with the same month last year.

By Angela | Posted in Economy, General, Health, Holiday, Inspirational, Miscellaneous Articles, Property, Tenerife, Things to Do, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)