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New Marina Contract In Corralejo, Fuerteventura Awarded

The contract for the extention and improvement to Corralejo harbour has been awarded and is expected to take two years to complete. The project will improve and extend the ferry piers, increase the number of moorings for pleasure craft and provide better boat yard facilities.

As well as the existing marina berths the new marina will provide 650 berths for yachts which will be sheltered behind a huge curved breakwater. The contract has been awarded to Viatrio Ingenieros SL and will cost nearly €343 million .

Corralejo harbour on the north coast of Fuerteventura is one of the busiest in the Canaries with close to a million passengers a year using the short ferry link to Lanzarote and the project will ensure that increasing passenger demand can be met. The harbour Playa Blanca in Lanzarote will also be extended and improved to allow easier access for the ferries whose entrance at the moment can only be described as tight.

The two projects will strengthen the ties between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Politicians on both islands have wanted for a long time to form a new "Canarian power" as strong as the link between Gran Canaria and Tenerife and these two project will move that dream forward.

The marina project will also provide a new esplande and integrate the area with the surrounding frontline properties and businesses. The marina project is sure to create an interest in property in close to the new harbour scheme.

Ferry Operator contacts Fred Olsen and Naviera Armas

For more information on Canarian Marinas visit www.worldmarineguide.com

European and Spanish Hotspots back in Vogue for British Real Estate Buyers Rather than far flung destinations

GoldAcre Estates the Canary Islands and Greece specialists stated that they have started to see a significant increase in enquiries from the internet, with the Greece business seeing an increase in the numbers particularly in Crete.

This seems to be to be a trend that seems to be supported by a recent report by Global Edge and Savills International via the Global Edge website GlobalEdge.co.uk

The Canary Islands has long since been a favorite with the British and European buyer famed for its mild winter climate and laid back lifestyle, recent economic factors and adjustments in prices in Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria have been a factor in their return to favour, but according to a survey of 1200 second home owners by Savills International British overseas home buyers are reverting back to more traditional second home destinations,.During the overseas property boom, the proportion of Brits buying outside of Western Europe grew significantly as buyers became motivated by the potential for capital gains. However, since the market turned in September 2008, buyers have returned to the traditional favourites of Spain, France, Portugal and Italy.“In 2010, the overseas second home market will be characterised by cash-rich, lifestyle buyers benefiting from lower prices in traditional, established holiday home hotspots.” Says Charles Weston-Baker, Head of Savills International.The survey data also confirms that 2009 was one of the worst years for the industry. 70% of respondents invested in overseas property between 2003 and 2008 but just 2% had in 2009.Rebecca Gill, research analyst at Savills International comments. “Whilst UK overseas home ownership has doubled since 2001 recent global recessionary trends have seen take-up levels dramatically slow. Factors such as fewer overseas holidays, reduced leisure spend capacity and financing availability, unfavourable exchange rates and declining house prices have impacted second home purchasing activity.”
20 % Of existing owners plan more purchases
The positive news is that a fifth of respondents said they are considering or planning additional holiday home purchases in the future. The top ten destinations being considered were France, Spain, Portugal, the US, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, Brazil and Turkey.However, further property price falls, better mortgage availability and a strengthening of sterling against the Euro are all necessary conditions before we see the market return to anywhere near the transaction volumes of 2007.

Air Europa To Begin Flights To Spain And Tenerife From Miami

Spanish carrier Air Europa has announced it will begin nonstop service from Madrid to Miami International on March 19th, 2010, and also will renew nonstop service to Tenerife, Canary Islands, starting on June 19th, 2010.

The Canary Islands have a comprehensive inter island flight service between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma and these new flights will be a great boost to the Canarian population requiring international connections.

Air Europa will operate four weekly flights to Madrid and one weekly flight to Tenerife using Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The airline first began operating at Miami International on June 20th, 2009, with just a seasonal service to Tenerife.

Residents and property owners on the islands are now benefitting from a host of new flights that have begun to serve the islands in recent months. This will also help the American tourism to the islands

More Visitors to Canary Islands

The number of tourists visiting Spain this January has increased compared to last year new statistics show. For the first time in 18 months tourist numbers rose by 1.1% to 2.54 million, not a huge rise but certainly good news especially for the Canary Islands which accounts for over 795,000 of visits making the Islands the most popular destination in Spain. In fact although the mainland has experienced small declines in both British and German numbers, some of the Islands have seen some increases, particularly in the numbers visiting from the mainland itself. While all inclusive hotels are as popular as ever the increase of second home owners especially in Fuerteventura – a developing property market – now offers visitors more private, homely accommodation and the possibility of booking directly with owners instead of tour operators.

An increase in the number of cheaper flights from Europe as well as the favoured weather during the winter months are prime reasons for the healthier statistics as Northern Europeans have escaped the freak cold conditions at home by flying a few hours further South. On average day time temperatures this time of year for Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria are above 20 degrees. New flights also bring new markets with noticeable numbers of Scandinavian visitors to Fuerteventura this winter.

For more information on local weather conditions and flights you can visit the ‘more’ section at www.goldacre-estates.com or search online for properties for sale in Corralejo, Caleta de Fuste, El Cotillo, Gran Tarajal and the villages of Fuerteventura.

Ryanair announces new flights from Prestwick to Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

Ryanair has announced extra flights to its sunshine routes from Prestwick and a new route to Fuerteventura starting next month.Chief executive for Prestwick airport, Iain Cochrane said: “This is more excellent news for the airport. As well as these welcome extras, we have new Ryanair routes starting to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands and Ibiza next month, plus summer flights to Jersey and Turkey with other airlines.”

This is yet more good news for the tourist industry on Fuerteventura and for property owners looking for more connections back to the UK. It will also help the real estate market on the island by providing more connections between Fuerteventura and the UK which is an important consideration for potential purchasers.

The extra flights from Prestwick will go to Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Faro and Carcassonne.

It’s Carnival Time in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

In many Roman Catholic countries the weeks leading up to Lent become Carnival time. It is a time when locals forget about the stresses and strains of everyday life and how much their real Estate is worth or not and dress up in often outrageous costumes to go out onto the streets and party well into the night.

Fuerteventura, second largest Island in the Canary Islands, Spain is no exception to this and the Carnival season starts in mid-February in the capital Puerto del Rosario, moving on to other towns and villages around Fuerteventura and the other Islands of Tenerife , Lanzarote and Gran canaria.

The main event in each location is the grand parade with many floats representing local businesses, marching bands, and of course the Carnival Queen – or queens, as you will often see not one, but two or even three queens – an adult, a junior and possibly a drag queen.

The majority of locals – men, women and children – join in with the festivities wearing fancy dress costumes made especially for the occasion. Men become women for the evening and all are a sight to behold, with tourists who know of the tradition also taking part.

So what is happening and where? Below are details of the events in the main towns but there will also be activities in the smaller towns and villages:

Puerto del Rosario

• The first, smaller parade takes place on 17th February at 8 pm. The parade represents “the birth of the sardine”, the sardine being the symbol of Carnival in the Canary Islands.
• On Saturday 27th February is the grand parade. This is traditionally the largest and most spectacular parade on the island, starting at around 5pm.
• On 6th March is the final parade “the burial of the sardine” when a huge papier mache model of the sardine is burned (cremated).

Caleta de Fuste

• In Caleta this year the grand parade takes place on February 20th. The theme for 2010 is the 1960’s so you can expect to see once again the fashions of this exciting era.

Corralejo

• The grand parade this year starts at around 5pm on Saturday 13th March. The theme of the carnival is The Jungle and there is a wealth of material for sale in every imaginable animal print in fabric shops in the old town. No doubt there will be many Tarzans, Janes (probably predominantly male) and “animals” galore on the streets of Corralejo.