Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
The Costa del Sol’s marinas are preparing for the busiest summer ever, following a booking boom that has seen some ports sold out.
For the summer of 2019, top marinas in the region report occupancy rates between 85% and 100 percent. British owners continue to dominate bookings, alongside their French counterparts.
Manuel Raigón, president of Marinas de Andalucía – which represents 40% of the region’s marina capacity – said the figures confirm ‘the excellent health of nautical tourism in the region.’
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He told local media that “the forecasts for the summer are very optimistic and confirm the positive moment our ports are currently experiencing.”
“Both the expected occupancy rate and the diversity in visitors reflect the international attraction of our coastline.”
Spanish, British and French yacht owners continue to make up the majority of visitors to Andalucian ports, while Germans are also a significant presence.
Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal are other markets.
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The 18 marinas represented by the association boast more than 9,000 berths, stretching from Marina El Rompido in Huelva to Club Náutico de San José in Almería.
Popular Costa del Sol destinations include Puerto Duquesa, Puerto Banús, Puerto Deportivo Marbella, Puerto Deportivo Fuengirola, Puerto Deportivo Benalmádena, and IGY Málaga Marina.
The surge in bookings has been fuelled partly by the booming boat rental market, with most marinas now hosting between five and 15 active charter companies – some ports boast more than 100.
“More and more people, especially younger profiles, are getting their sailing licence and renting a boat for a few days with friends or family,” explained Raigón.
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It’s an easy and accessible way to enjoy life on the sea.
Although motor boats are still the most popular, sailing boats and catamarans are becoming more common for families and friends who want to explore the coast.
Marinas welcome an average of 8 to 9 boats per day, while some ports handle up to 40 vessels.
Most short-stay tourists stay between two and four nights.
Many marinas have already strengthened their staff to cope with this unprecedented demand. This includes areas like seamanship and customer service as well as security, surveillance, and water maintenance.
The tourism boom is a welcome development for the Costa del Sol, as it continues to attract a record number of British tourists who are keen to take advantage of the year-round sailing and the world-class facilities in the region.
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