British visitors to Spanish Costa Blanca surge

The Costa Blanca’s Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport has reported record visitor numbers for June. The airport served 1,772,559 passengers during the month, a 17.7% increase compared to June 2023, and Alicante-Elche’s highest ever number of passengers in a single month.

International passengers made up the vast majority of the airport’s users, with some 1,532,755 travelling through it during June. Britons were by far the largest proportion of those, accounting for 39.9% of all Alicante-Elche’s international passengers.

Key to the Costa Blanca’s appeal – in addition to its bountiful sunshine, marvellous beaches and internationally renowned golf courses – is its affordability.

“Holidaymakers are seeking value from their breaks, so the Costa Blanca has much to offer,” explains Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director at leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España, which has been building homes in the Costa Blanca for more than 65 years. “It delivers exceptional natural landscapes, vibrant towns and a superb local cuisine, but minus the price tag of some of Spain’s other Costas.”

Spain as a whole serves as a good value holiday destination for Britons seeking sunshine. The cost of living there is 24.9% lower than in the UK, according to the latest Numbeo research, meaning visitors can enjoy everything from meals out to leisure activities for less.

Second home buyers also enjoy exceptional value in the Costa Blanca. Kyero.com reports that the average price for a three-bedroom property in Spain is €400,000 (as at July 2024), yet Taylor Wimpey España’s outstanding three-bedroom new homes at Allure in Elche are priced from just €220,000 plus VAT. The homes are available to purchase off-plan, with construction due to complete in July 2026. This means that buyers can lock in their price now. This is particularly relevant in light of real estate appraisal firm Sociedad de Tasación’s recent assessment that Spanish property prices will reach a new high at the end of 2024 – up a projected 3.8% year-on-year.

Allure is the latest development from Taylor Wimpey España at Alenda Golf in Elche, just ten minutes from Alicante and a selection of beautiful beaches, and six minutes from Alicante-Elche Airport. Located in a tranquil residential area in the midst of the rich greenery of Alenda golf, the gated community represents an investment of €15 million into the local area by Taylor Wimpey España.

A mix of apartments and duplexes will be available at Allure, including ground-floor homes with private gardens and duplexes with large terraces. The homes are all rated ‘A’ for their energy efficiency. Owners at Allure will also benefit from a large communal swimming pool, landscaped grounds with mature trees, a children’s play area, a boules alley and a multipurpose events/meeting room. Views from the homes either extend over the communal pool and gardens or take in the spectacular mountainous scenery of the Sierra de las Aguilas.

The homes at Allure will take the total number of properties that Taylor Wimpey España has built at Alenda Golf to 378. The firm has sold homes there to buyers of 20 different nationalities, with around 50% of buyers at its latest developments there being Spanish and 16% being British.

Some 70% of buyers at Alenda Golf use their property as their primary residence, benefiting from the serenity of the local area, while also having easy access to lively beachfront nightlife just 15 minutes away. For daily necessities, Alenda Golf has a small supermarket, restaurant and bar, clubhouse, fitness centre and paddle tennis courts on site, in addition to its 18-hole, par 72 golf course. The pretty town of Elche, the golden beaches of Alicante and the historic village of Monforte del Cid are also within easy reach.

“Alicante provides exceptional value when it comes to the local property market. For buyers from the UK, this beautiful area of the Costa Blanca is easy to access, affordable and delivers an excellent quality of life,” said,  Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director, Taylor Wimpey España