NEWS
Spain looks to attract Swedish second home buyers
17-10-2012
 |
Tourism director Elias Bendodo and tourist board manager Arturo Bernal liaised with Swedish promoters at the Living Costa del Sol conference in Stockholm drawing up a new deal to encourage Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Danish property buyers to purchase holiday or second homes on the Costa del Sol.
‘For years, Germans and Britons dominated the second home market in Spain but now the tables have turned towards Nordic buyers,’ said Mark Pritchard, sales and marketing director of house builder Taylor Wimpey de España.
‘Having recognised the popularity of Spain among this market, we have dedicated a lot of time and effort to these buyers. On the Costa del Sol, we saw a 31% increase in total September sales to Scandinavians, a growth of 150% over the same period last year,’ he explained.
He also pointed out that in addition to the Scandinavian push and helping lift Malaga's tourism industry to an estimated €250 million a year, plans were recently unveiled by health chiefs to turn the Andalucian city into a prominent destination for global healthcare by drawing patients to clinics and hospitals where some of the best surgeons reside.
‘Health tourism is becoming increasingly popular so this will certainly be one area to watch,’ added Pritchard.
With Malaga province's tourism industry in mind, data from the National Statistics Institute show that Marbella is leading the way in foreign tourism on the Costa del Sol with the city council explaining that during August 2012 the number of overnight stays by foreigners increased by 27%.
As an added incentive the VAT on new properties in Spain is 4% until the end of this year when it will then go up to 10%.
Properties that are proving popular include Los Arqueros Beach, a new residential complex of 24 three bedroom apartments four minutes from the sea front promenade and three minutes from the ancient part of San Pedro de Alcántara, in the new expanding area towards Marbella beach and near Puerto Banus with starting prices of €205,000.
Avalon is another 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 has sea and golf views, wide streets, a communal swimming pool and gardens. Luxury two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses with two bathrooms start at €250,000.
