Alan Wentworth-Harley's local news: Boost to Marbella tourism this Summer

I found this excellent article about Marbella in the Sur in English this week: The sun goes down over the Golden Mile and there is hardly any room to walk through the streets because of the number of relaxed visitors who are doing the same. Their casual clothes make it impossible to guess how much these people spend on holiday. The middle class tourists are a melting-pot of nationalities and many of them resist spending more than they need to and are happy to wander round the town centre or toast themselves under the sun of Marbella, but some parts of the tourism sector are rubbing their hands in glee at the forthcoming arrival of others who are much less reserved about spending.

Local news brought to you by Alan Wentworth-Harley

Examples are not difficult to find. For example, the luxurious Puente Romano Hotel ended July with a record turnover. As often happens in these high-flying sectors, there is a certain discretion about money but it is enough to say that the result is "several million euros", partly but not exclusively thanks to the Arab market during that month, before Ramadan which began on July 20th and comes to an end on August 19th.

August is not proving quite as good as July at this emblematic hotel but it is still forecasting an increase of between 25 and 30 per cent in business compared with last year, something which bodes well for Marbella. "The Arab market, which has not come here in August, has been partly replaced by that of the Russians", says Julián Cabanillas, the commercial manager of the Puente Romano and also the legendary Marbella Club. At this time of year, the reservations department of the Marbella Club is having to turn potential clients away because no accommodation is available. Not even the most expensive villas (4,700 euros a night) are empty. The same applies to the suite which the Puente Romano has on the beach and whose price per night is no less than 5,000 euros, with the average booking being for a stay of seven days.

Puerto Banus, Marbella

The Russians top the list

As well as these glamorous establishments, Marbella has another type of hotel for tourists with plenty of money. At the five star Hotel Don Carlos it is impossible to reserve a villa, even at 1,500 euros a night, and the Russian guests top the list not only for their increased numbers compared with previous years but also their level of spending. This is something which is reflected by all the grand hotels. "A family can easily spend 500 euros in an afternoon, between renting sunbeds, playing tennis and having a buffet lunch", say sources at the Don Carlos.
"If they're spending astronomical sums on accommodation", point out other experts in the Marbella tourist sector, "that is money that they will not be spending in the designer shops of Marbella or Puerto Banús, which is where they opt to go". It is certainly impossible to quantify the amount of money spent every day on luxury products because these clients buy on impulse and the shops in this exclusive marina, such as Gucci, Bulgari and Versace, are too discreet to tell.

To read the complete article click here


Alan Wentworth-Harley is the CEO of leading property consultant One Marbella

About One Marbella

For more information about One Marbella’s amazing portfolio of luxury properties for sale in Puerto Banus, Marbella and elsewhere in the Costa del Sol email info@one-marbella.com or call +34 952 905 100. www.one-marbella.com