Busy Levante promenade at 11pm yesterday |
By nationality, the breakdown corresponds to a 50.1% share to the domestic market and 49.9% share to the foreign tourist. The International markets has compensated for the domestic market, which fell by 7% during this period.
A major concern for tourists at the moment is security and hotel chiefs are fully aware of this matter. It is reported daily that those disembarking off shuttle transfer coaches in certain parts of the Rincon area are being targeted by pick pockets whilst they are distracted collecting their luggage. This is prevalent especially where the buses do not drop off directly outside the hotel.
Passengers disembarking off shuttle bus |
The growth in the International sector is mainly made up of Britons - 12% increase and Dutch - 23% increase, but there is also growth from other destinations such as Russia, Italy, Algeria, Morocco, Ireland, Switzerland and even the USA.
The domestic market continues to fall and traditionally August is overflowing with Spanish visitors said Antonio Mayor, President of the Hotel Association, so we may have a shock yet. Hoteliers have blamed the decline of the Spanish tourist primarily on the forthcoming IVA increases, due to come into effect on 1st September and pay cuts due to the Government austerity measures. But despite this date being announced, water, electricity and gas will have the tax increase applied for July and August usage as the IVA rate is applied at the time of billing!
The consumer association FACUA criticized this anomaly but according to article 75 of the VAT Law, VAT is payable at the time of generating the bill, thus the services used in July and August are billed from 1st September onwards. Electricity and Gas fall in the 21% category but Water falls into the reduced rate which increases from 8% to 10%.
Will these prices rise after 1st September? |
Traditionally Benidorm is overflowing with Spanish visitors during the month of August - parking is virtually impossible as Spaniards drive from Madrid and other cities for their anual holidays. They will often park their cars and leave them their throughout their stay - normally hogging one of the free white parking bays.
Hopefully the current good exchange rate will not put Brits off coming over...