Despite the credit crunch and the weakening pound British tourists clearly remain reluctant to surrender their holidays in Spain. As new research just released by AENA, the Spanish airport authority, reveals that visitor numbers to Lanzarote from the UK have jumped by 15.6% during the first half of 2008.
The AENA figures will confound many industry observers who have been predicting the death of the foreign holiday. As Lanzarote has now welcomed 509,755 British tourists during the first six months of 2008. An increase of 15.6% on the same period during 2007.
And it´s not just British consumers who are refusing to give up their week in the sun. As foreign visitor numbers to the island as a whole have increased by 5.9% during the first six months of the year. With the Irish market also contributing to this upward trend – with 123,047 tourists from Eire visiting Lanzarote over the same period. An increase of 5.4% versus last year.
The news makes welcome reading for the many overseas owners of holiday villas in Lanzarote. As thousands of British and Irish investors have taken the plunge into ownership on the island over the last decade.
Attracted by the fact that Lanzarote boasts a year round clement climate that also delivers year round rental returns. A claim that no other European sun spot can truly match.
Currently, the Lanzarote property market is softening – in tandem with most other markets across Spain and Europe. Primarily as a result of international pressures rather than any domestic detoriation. As Lanzarote´s main industry is tourism – which clearly remains in excellent health in light of this strong first half performance.
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