With the number of visitors declining in recent years, the tourism authority in Menorca came to the conclusion that they needed to reverse that decline - but rather than conventional advertising they took a more direct marketing approach. The investment appears to be paying dividends as the signs are that the number of holidaymakers in 2011 is going to be up on previous years.
Moving to a tax haven makes a lot of sense financially for business people and those who want to avoid inheritance taxes, but do they have to sacrifice good internet connections? Not in Andorra, that has full tax haven benefits and broadband speed better than many European countries.
Expert Author: Roger Munns | Category: Vacations With the recession in Europe and the U.S. over its worst - hopefully - this year had all the signs of being a good one for the Menorca holidays industry. Tourism to the island has been down in the last couple of years, in common with most Mediterranean islands, as a direct result of the bank failures and subsequent recession that hit consumer spending on things like overseas holidays hard.
There's two sides of Majorca - good value package holidays enjoyed by millions of familes from across Europe. And there is the treasure of an area discovered by far fewer - it's called Soller. As reputations go, Majorca has a real mix of attitude from people who might be considering a holiday on the well known Spanish island that has proved so popular with tourists in the past.
It's not been a good year for the Spanish holiday islands, the number of visiting holidaymakers has dropped sharply and family favourite Menorca hasn't been spared from the economic downturn. And it's not just the overall economy and worry about job security and future prospects that have hit Menorca and the other Spanish holiday islands hard this year - the British pound has slipped again in value against the Euro, sometimes coming close to parity.
Expert Author: Roger Munns | Category: Economics America and Europe face a pretty bleak 2009 as the world starts to feel the recession biting, and millions of people could be made unemployed. And as unemployment rises and politicians see their poll ratings slip, part of the blame for the economic downturn will be put on tax havens, with astronomical sums being banded around of how much each country would benefit if tax havens didn't exist.
Expert Author: Roger Munns | Category: Skiing Hardly had the memories of a poor 2007 ski holidays season been replaced with happier memories of a good 2008, when the economic crises hitting the US and Europe threatens to send the ski holidays into depression again! 'Recent surveys have shown that during the forthcoming economic downturn in Europe and the US, many people regard their summer holiday as an essential, not a luxury, and come hell or high water people are still going to take a holiday.'
Expert Author: Roger Munns | Category: Vacations Six weeks of cloud and rain were enough to send many Brits to their local travel agent or on-line to look for a sunshine holiday this summer. Menorca was happy to accommodate them, and it upgraded a disastrous year to a simply awful one for Menorca.
The French capital Paris has the Eiffel Tower, and it has become an instantly recognisable symbol - send a postcard from Paris with the Eiffel Tower on the front and the recepient will know where you have been visiting before even reading the card. And now Monaco, the second smallest country in the world, which borders France, is hoping to build a landmark which will become as recognisable the world over in the same way the French icon is.
Expert Author: Roger Munns | Category: Vacations Less spending power for family holidays this summer are affecting different popular tourist destinations with some areas reporting a drop in arrival numbers - but for Malta 2008 could be a year to remember for the right reasons. And with the media reporting on a possible recession there could be even more reasons why a holiday in Malta might not be top of everyone's list for summer 2008.
Both a Royal and a celebrity with an American Oscar winning mother and a European prince for a father, As Prince Albert turns 50 his tiny kingdom of Monaco is known as the playground of the rich and famous. But Prince Albert has been spending his time successfully raising awareness of global warming.
Plans for a new airport fifteen minutes from Andorra's border 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.
Andorra ski holidays will never be so accessible.
Air Shows are always a popular tourist attraction, and the annual Malta Air Show promises to be the best ever this year, with participants including the RAF and the USAF displaying F-16's and Tornados.
Malta holidays will enjoy a late season boost.
Expert Author: Roger Munns | Category: Global tax haven and the ultimate European travel destination for the wealthy, Monaco property prices have always been among the highest in the world.
An influx of British property buyers is helping to push Monaco property prices higher still...
22,000 visitors, 95 super Yachts and 530 exhibitors are heading to Monaco for the annual yacht show... and the organisers have pulled off a balancing act of a luxury yacht show that isn't damaging the environment.
Expert Author: Roger Munns | Category: Malta has seen her properties rise by more than any other EU country, and there's no sign of a slow down for the years ahead.
Less than a year after succeeding to the throne, Prince Albert of Monaco is swapping the luxury of his palace for the wilds of the North Pole to highlight global warming.
Hoping for a boost in tourists, the arrival of low cost flights to Malta is eagerly anticipated by hotels and holiday companies on the Mediterranean island.
The visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the island of Malta to open the recent Commonwealth meeting resulted in nearly a week of positive coverage for the island on television, print media and the internet.
While Malta has often been overlooked as a holiday destination, the coverage has come immediately before the traditional holiday booking period for the summer with Malta hotels, holiday companies and property agents hoping that it will boost awareness of this often forgotten island.
Expert Author: Roger Munns | Category: Holiday home prices in some areas of Europe could drop by ten per cent or more in 2006, predict European real estate specialists Tribune Properties.
