New Airport
Raises Andorra Ski Holiday Prospects
Released
on: October 1, 2007, 1:13 pm
Press
Release Author: Paul la Vella
Industry:
Consumer
Services
Press
Release Summary: The Andorra government has unveiled plans for a
new airport fifteen minutes from Andorra's border that could boost
the number of ski tourists significantly.
With
a current drive time of two and a half hours from Barcelona, the
airport could impact on both the holiday and property markets.
More
people are set to experience a ski holiday in Andorra.
Press
Release Body: Just after the second world war Andorra was still
a poor European country with no real economy, but Andorra has been
transformed in the past fifty years to a vibrant independent State,
sought after by the wealthy for her tax haven status, and skiers
for her ski runs that match the best in Europe for facilities and
ski holidays infrastructure.
The
one drawback that Andorra has had is the distance
from a major airport, two and a half hours drive to Barcelona in
Spain or Toulouse in France, with some ski holidays starting with
a night in one of the Barcelona
hotels before setting off for Andorra.
But
that is set to change with agreement for an aiport to be built just
fifteen minutes drive from the Spanish / Andorra border.
As
well as the extra ski tourists the new airport will impact Andorra
as a tax haven. Andorra
and the more famous Monaco are Europe's leading tax havens, with
residents enjoying the benefit of no income tax. Property prices
in Andorra are less than a third of the price of Monaco's.
Commenting
on the new airport, one Andorra estate agent who specialises in
Andorra property for sale thinks that the prices of Andorra properties
will rise.
'At
the moment Monaco has the advantage of being ten minutes away from
an international airport by helicopter, while Andorra is over two
hours. With that advantage gone we anticipate more people considering
a tax haven will consider Andorra, with a resulting appreciation
in Andorra property
prices.'
Property
in Andorra has risen an average of ten per cent a year in recent
years, with three streams of buyers - the local market, buyers for
ski holiday homes who are often on a Crystal
ski holiday and like Andorra enough to buy a holiday
home, plus those looking for a tax haven.
The
airport is to be located in Seu d'Urgell, and the
first flights are anticipated to be in 2010 or 2011, with a runway
of 4,500 feet - not long enough for some medium range aircraft,
and it is likely that most commercial airlines using the airport
will be 60 to 80 seaters, plus private jets much favoured by the
wealthy who might now consider Andorra as a viable tax haven.
As
well as being welcomed by the property business in Andorra, a new
airport has been greeted enthusiastically by the skiing industry.
The
country has upgraded facilities in recent years, and often competes
as a top ski destination in Europe, with well known ski companies
like Crystal Ski operating holidays for the British
market.
In
recent years the number of tourists for the Andorra
ski holiday season has topped ten million visitors,
and the ski industry is an important part of the country's economy,
with the government investing in new infrastructure to help tempt
visitors back for skiing for repeat visits.
But
last year was the worst season for decades as the snow, which normally
falls from end October, didn't arrive until mid March, and the first
drop in the number of ski holidays in Andorra being sold by British
and other European travel agents dropped from the previous ski season
for some years.
The
new airport cutting travelling time from the UK, one of the Andorra
ski holiday's main markets, could boost the occupancy levels of
hotels in Andorra
significantly.
For
holidays in Andorra visit http://www.yourandorra.com
For property in Andorra visit http://www.yourandorra.com/property
Web
Site: http://www.yourandorra.com
Contact
Details: YourAndorra.com, Welbeck House, High Street, Guildford,
Surrey, GU1
3JF, England 44 1483 870340 welbeck36@hotmail.com

Back
to previous page...
Back
to home page...
Submit
your press releases...
|