Golf Holiday News - January 2009

Spain Still Top Travel Destination for UK Vacationers

Spain is the top foreign destination for holidaying Brits in 2008, but the nation’s love affair for all things French has taken a bit of a knock, according to various sources within the travel industry.

The place to make tracks for in Spain is clearly Valencia – the country’s fastest growing tourist destination. The port and surrounding area have been redeveloped, one of the attractions being a new marina boasting a public promenade with restaurants, bars and a raised walkway extending 800 metres into the sea.

Valencia’s airport has been enlarged, an arts and science park is being created and work is under way on Valencia Football Club’s new, 75,000-seat stadium. What’s more, the Spanish themselves regard Valencia as the best place in which to live, so it must be good.
ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) says many Brits as “now very familiar with and comfortable in Spain,” around half-a-million of us owning a property there.

“Travelling there and around is easy and inexpensive. No-frills airline routes are spread across the whole of Spain, the Spanish train system is among the best and least expensive in Europe, the bus system is regular and reliable and taxis are plentiful and cheap.”

Almost a quarter of Brits want to purchase overseas property

Almost a quarter of Brits are thinking of purchasing an overseas property and moving abroad to escape the economic gloom, according to the results of a new survey.

A poll by financial services company HiFX revealed that 24 per cent of Brits were "seriously considering" leaving the country as the effects of the credit crunch begin to bite.
Commenting on the findings, Mark Bodega, marketing director at HiFX, said that more Brits are considering emigrating because of the current state of the UK property market.
"However, with current economic uncertainty, it's never been more important for people thinking of making a move abroad to do their homework and find out if the grass really is greener on the other side," he said.

According to HiFX figures, the average UK family emigrates with assets of £250,000 — the majority of which is usually obtained from selling their property.

Recent figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed that approximately 85,000 families decided to leave Britain for a new life abroad last year with Spain still being the top destination of choice followed by France

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