British consumers are refusing to give up their holidays abroad. Despite the weakening pound and the credit crunch. As visitor numbers to Lanzarote continue to grow - according to the Spanish airport authority AENA. Who recorded a 15.6% growth in British tourism to the island during the first half of 2008.
Lanzarote has long been a popular destination with visitors from the UK. Thanks to a clement year round climate that delivers minimum temperatures of 20c even in the depths of winter. Mix in four hour flight times, over ninety great beaches, lots of unique tourist attractions and a relaxed pace of life and the island has all the right ingredients for a great holiday in the sun.
British tourists certainly think so - as 509,755 visitors from the UK enjoyed a stay on the island during the first six months of 2008. An increase of 15.6% on 2007. Confounding industry observers who postulated that the credit crunch could spell the end for the holiday abroad.
It´s not just the British who are reluctant to surrender their week in the sun either. As Irish tourist numbers have also increased across the same period - up 5.9% on the first half of 2007. With 123,047 tourists from Eire visiting Lanzarote.
Dutch, Swiss, Norwegian and Swedish numbers have also increased. And even the Spanish have been getting in on the act - with the Canary Island Tourist Board registering an increase of 3.7% in visits from the mainland during the first half of 2008.
These buoyant figures make happy reading for the owners of holiday villas in Lanzarote. As many thousands of British and Irish investors have taken the plunge and bought property on the island over the last few years. Attracted by the year rental round returns the islands climate creates.
Many private owners - and island based villa holiday companies - have reported an upsurge in bookings this year as a result of this sharp increase in visitor numbers. With forward bookings also looking bright into the autumn and winter months.
As a result the market for holiday rental property in Lanzarote remains equally bright - as virtually the entire island economy is underpinned by tourism. Ensuring that demand for good quality apartment and villa properties remains relatively strong - despite the current international economic situation.
Apartments in the main resorts start from as little as €70,00 whilst villas with pools are available from around €250,000 upwards.