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One to watch: visitors passing through Palma Airport on the golden isle of Mallorca reach 2.5 million in one month

Mallorca is the most popular tourist destination in the Iberian peninsula. With 300 days of sunshine every year, 23 golf courses, 25 marinas, as well as some of the most stunning scenery in Europe, it’s no wonder the island’s airport has beaten last year’s visitor numbers, while hotels in Mallorca are reporting a ten point increase on the occupancy figures from May last year.

Son Sant Joan Airport has posted record traffic so far this year, with 2.5 million people using the airport in the last month alone. Coupled with visitor numbers increasing by 6%, this is great news for Mallorca’s property market, boosting buyer confidence and renewing excitement in the much-loved Golden Isle.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey España and a resident of Mallorca comments,

“The rising number of tourists to the island has translated into the property market, with many holidaymakers choosing to make their stay more permanent.

“Our sales figures show Mallorca continues to have broad appeal amongst discerning buyers around the world and properties in prime locations are continuing to sell well.”

Indeed, demand for property in Mallorca remains high, with over 54,000 EU residents (19,623 of whom are British) now living in Mallorca permanently. The island also boasts an estimated 60,000 second home owners from the UK.

Accessibility is a key factor for many of those buying first or second homes abroad and is oneofthe reasons that Mallorca‘s property market is flourishing. New routes from Scunthorpe and Portsmouth, with reasonably priced flights of around two hours, have added to the already extensive network of flights between the UK and the Golden Isle. Links between Mallorca and the rest of Europe – particularly Germany and Scandinavia – have further added to the trend.

According to property portal Kyero, the average Balearic Island property costs €458,000, more than double the average Spanish mainland property cost of €220,000. The difference is a sharp reflection of the high end accommodation available on islands such as Mallorca, as well as the huge variety of outdoor activities and leisure pursuits that the Balearic Islands offer.

But purchasing a property on Mallorca doesn’t need to break the bank if you take the smart approach. Taylor Wimpey España is offering two bedroom apartments at its El Puerto II new development for just €149,500. The apartments are located on the south east coast of the island, close to the glamorous Marina de Cala D’Or. With three communal swimming pools, the properties are surrounded by outstanding natural beauty as well as local locations offering activities such as water sports, biking and golf.

For those eager to purchase their dream Mallorca property without delay, the company is also offering key-ready, sleek and contemporary homes at Aires de Pollensa.The properties offer a winning combination of peaceful surroundings and beautiful views, matched with a wide array of popular facilities around the port. The closest attractions include golf – notably the famous nine hole Pollensa golf course – as well as cycling routes, kite surfing, sailing and diving schools. A host of traditional restaurants completes the idyllic location.

The modern three-floor development has two and three bedroom apartments available from €275,000, with spacious terraces and private gardens in a gated community, alongside parking facilities and a dazzling communal pool.

Madrid gets high-speed rail link with Alicante

A high-profile opening ceremony and 50 percent introductory discounts mark the roll out of the new service which will slash travel times between Madrid and the coastal city of Alicante to just 2 hours and 20 minutes.

The new service linking Madrid, Cuenca, Albacete, Villena and Alicante will initially run nine times a day with extra trains at weekends, according to a report in Spanish online daily teinteresa.es.

The new journey time between Madrid and Alicante of 2 hours and 20 minutes is 50 minutes shorter than that of current connections.

Tickets for the route will cost €64.90 but there will be an introductory discount of 50 percent between June 18th and 25th.

In addition to the new high-speed link, Spain’s state-owned railway operator Renfe will introduce direct daily connections between Alicante and both Santander and Gijon as well as with Galicia at weekends.

Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will be among the guests on Monday at the opening ceremony for the Madrid–Alicante high-speed link before it launches officially on June 18th.

María Dolores de Cospedal , the Popular Party Secretary General and President of Castilla-La Mancha, and Alberto Fabra,

The bonfires of San Juan, the symbol of Alicante

The bonfires of San Juan, Alicante’s most important festivity, are synonymous with fire, giant papier-mâché figures, music, parades and an irresistible atmosphere of fun and high spirits all rolled into one. This is the best possible way to celebrate the coming of summer. We invite you to discover this ocean of fireworks, lights and colour, and to experience all the exuberance that runs riot in this Mediterranean city.

The light, vitality and splendour that invade Alicante throughout the year can be experienced more intensely than ever during the bonfires of San Juan, a festivity that has been designated as being of International Tourist Interest. Over several days the city of Alicante is filled with large papier-mâché and wooden sculptures (known as ninots), firework castles, mascletàs (firework displays), music and giant bonfires. A huge popular celebration which reaches a spectacular peak on the night of 24 June with the cremà, when the purifying flames engulf hundreds of bonfires and tinge the sky with orange.

Throughout the year, locals carefully prepare the celebrations that completely transform the city’s streets. The ninots, genuine satirical works of art, are placed at numerous sites all over the city. It is well worth taking a good look to appreciate these colourful and original structures, as on the night of San Juan, they will be burnt and destroyed forever in a magical ritual. Make sure you get up close to these colossal monuments wrapped in flames. This is the only way to experience the unique mystery and atmosphere emanating from the bonfires, which are the supreme symbol of the whole celebration.

This celebration is deeply-rooted in many other towns throughout the province of Alicante and is much more than just a display of fire and fireworks. These are days of conviviality and spectacle, and feature a multitude of events for young and old alike, including horse and carriage parades, street musicians and carnival performers, the sounds of traditional instruments such as the “dulzaina” (a type of oboe) and drums, lunches and dinners with friends around the booths, musical groups, and the floral offering to the Virgin of El Remedio.

Enjoy the coming of summer in the best possible way, by experiencing the unique spectacle of the bonfires of San Juan

Countdown to the Superyacht Cup Palms

With just over a week to go to the Superyacht Cup Palma the 20 participating yachts are gathering in Palma making final preparations for the four day regatta which starts on June 19th . The event is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Superyacht regattas of the year with a truly world-class fleet including 5 of the famous J Class yachts.

The racing starts for the J Class on Wednesday 19 th with an exhibition race and the two Superyacht classes will start racing on Thursday 20 th . The final race for all will be on Saturday 22 nd June and the event will be brought to a close with a spectacular Prize Giving Evening at Es Baluard Muesum of Contemporary Art overlooking the yachts and the Port of Palma.

For the first time in Palma all the yachts will carry tracking devices which enable spectators and keen followers in any location to view the races live via the website , the tracking has been kindly sponsored by Absolute Boat Care, Moll Vell Marina and UBS. The races will also be shown on a screen in the tent at the Race Village and can be watched via the website at any time after the race.

This year the grand tented bar and entertainment area, which is the focus for the social programme, will have a comfortable chill-out area with a cooling gin and tonic bar provided by Puro Beach. Hogan’s will once again be managing the main bar and Nespesso will provide the morning coffee before racing. Music and Entertainment will bring everyone together each afternoon after racing in the usual informal Superyacht Cup style.

Jongert Yachts have just confirmed silver sponsorship and to celebrate the opening of their new office in Palma they will hold an inauguration cocktail party for their guests and clients on their stand on Friday evening.

Costa del Sol property market set to sizzle this summer!

Foreign buyers are now as important to the Spanish property market as they were in 2006, when the real estate boom was in full swing, with waves of “climate” migrants investing in the Spanish property dream once again.

According to data from the Genera Council of Notaries, a total of 38,312 non-resident foreign citizens bought property in Spain last year, representing an increase of 28.4% on the 2011 figures, with Brits owning the biggest stake in the Spanish property market overall, holding 15% of total foreign purchases.

Split by region, it’s coastline areas such as the Costa del Sol boasting year round sunshine that are seeing a resurgence in overseas investment, especially by Taylor Wimpey España.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey España comments,

“Brits have always loved Spain as an investment country – it’s a fantastic location for people seeking a bolt-hole in the sun, but over the last few years we have seen an increasing number of sales from all over European the Costa del Sol in particular. We are also benefiting from an increase in buyers from Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland and Norway .”

“It’s no surprise more and more foreign buyers are snapping up Spanish property as increased flights across Europe have made it cheaper and quicker to get to Spain, helping boost sales across the Costa del Sol.

The UK already boasts the highest number of routes to Malaga and now adds a further 3 routesbringing the total number of UK to Malaga routes to 22.Routes to Germany have also been strengthened with 7 new routes (Dortmund, Hanover, Nuremburg, Cologne, Munich, Münster, and Hamburg. The rest of the new routes are made up with Madrid-Barajas (2), Melilla (2), Brussels (2) Paris, Warsaw, Knock (Ireland), Oslo and Bergen (Norway) and Copenhagen.

These increases mean that Malaga will be servicing 10.1% more seats on European routes and an 8.9% increase in flights compared with last year’s statistics. In addition, routes that were dropped in the winter will also restart, i.e. Turkish Airlines will start to fly direct between Malaga and Istanbul and Delta Airlines will resume flights between the Costa del Sol and JFK airport in New York – great news for the Costa del Sol tourist industry!

Indeed, overseas property investment in Spain is also expected to increase, as a new ‘golden visa’ law is set to come into effect in the next year that will state non-EU nationals that spend more than €500,000 will get the automatic right to residency in the country.

So for those looking for a property in one of Spain’s few destinations that has it all: climate, quality services, golf courses, shops, hospitals, international schools, good infrastructure, and the Malaga international airport with connections to many cities across the globe, take a look at Taylor Wimpey Espana’s glamorous homes on the Costa del Sol.

La Floresta sur is a new residential development, currently under construction, set near the village of Elviria and its beach, very close to Marbella and Malaga. Set in beautiful surroundings which have been declared a natural biosphere reserve by UNESCO, this development benefits from stunning views towards the oak and pine forest as well as towards the sea. These beautiful properties are available now from €178.000.

Another spectacular property choice in the Costa del Sol is Avalon, a new Taylor Wimpey development situated in one of the best areas of Marbella, the prestigious Los Arqueros golf course and 20 minutes from Estepona. The residential complex of luxury apartments and penthouses costing from €250.000, boasts a natural charm with stunning sea and golf views, wide streets, communal swimming pool and beautiful gardens.

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