Marbella: back on track
Marbella has just been chosen to host the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup in July this year when the Spanish tennis team will play the German team for a place in the semi-finals of this international tournament...
The event is expected to attract thousands of tourists to the capital of the Costa del Sol and is widely viewed as a positive sign that Marbella is firmly back on track as one of Europe's top tourist destinations and favourite for property investment.
Beating other Spanish candidate cities such as Tenerife, Zaragoza and El Puerto de Santa María, Marbella will host the event between 10th and 12th July at the bull ring in Puerto Banus. Spanish players contesting the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup are expected to include the world number one, Rafa Nadal and up-and-coming star, Fernando Verdasco, currently ranked 9th in the world.
Already world famous for its golf courses, Marbella is also a rising star on the tennis circuit. The Andalucian Tennis Experience with the world's top women players is being held this Easter week at the Puente Romano Hotel Tennis Club. Stars such as Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic are competing with 32 other international players.
Marbella is European City of Sport this year and has already hosted several sporting events, although the Davis Cup is widely considered to be the icing on the cake. Some 18,000 tickets will be on sale for the three day competition, which will showcase the city and its tourist attractions.
After several years of political uncertainty, Marbella is well into its second year of new local Government whose main aim has been to put the city back on the tourist and property investment map. Attracting major sporting events to Marbella are part of the municipal's objectives to bring international acclaim to the capital of the Costa del Sol and raise the city's profile, an objective that is being fulfilled with obvious success.
"Marbella is fast regaining its status as a world class tourist spot and second home destination," comments James Gonzalez, Market Analyst at Obelisk Investment Property, "and there's a definitely an air of optimism in the city." James points out that this optimism is fast spreading to the rest of the Costa del Sol. "Tourism officials are optimist about Easter visitor figures and all in all, the Costa del Sol looks set for a good year," James says, "and this includes property investment opportunities."
With numerous estate agents reporting a recent surge of interest in Costa del Sol properties, the selection of Marbella as host city for the Davis Cup could not have come at a better time.
Source: Obelisk