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Villa for sale in Scalea, Calabria
Italy's position as a world leading tourism destination seems unlikely to dwindle as domestic figures continue to rise. And that makes it a property investor's dream...
Property purchasers are attracted by the lack of mass property development in Italy, while smaller developments, existing re-sales and rural renovations form the bulk of the Italian property market.
Italy is fast becoming an alternative to investing in Spain, investing in France or Portugal and as a result, the Italian property market is entering a growth period.
Sandy beaches, Alpine landscapes, lakes, lush vegetation and a generally Mediterranean climate are added attractions, maintaining Italy’s firm position on the discerning tourist’s map. Furthermore, many budget airlines connect to Italy’s fifteen airports, opening up new property markets to investors and maximising buy-to-let options in key locations.
40 million visitors in 2006
Tourism figures reflect sharp growth in the past two years: International tourism arrivals to Italy amounted to over 40 million visitors in 2006 according to UN World Tourism Organisation, giving the country the impressive ranking of 5th most popular destination in the world.
Tourist arrival numbers rose by 17.2% in 2007, therefore we may be pleasantly surprised when new UN ranking figures are released in June this year. The findings come as no surprise, with cities like Rome or Venice seldom being matched in travel brochures and Milan and Rome having climbed their way into the "Top 50 Most Expensive Cities in the World", according to a survey carried out by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Meanwhile, stunning countryside draws discerning visitors seeking the charms of Italy's most stunning rural retreats.
Italy's GDP continues to be amongst the world's top ten, with a gross national income per capita of over $32,000. After undergoing a mass exodus to the cities in the past decades, nationals are now returning to their rural origins, favoring a more relaxed and homely approach to holidays.
Calabria is Italy's next property hotspot
The fast emerging southern region of Calabria alone saw over 209,000 Italian visitors in 2006.
Calabria sits in the “toe of the boot” in southern Italy and is fast becoming Italy’s next property hotspot.
With international services from Ryanair and Easyjet being introduced to Lamezia airport, the entire area is opening up to overseas investors of all types.
Timely property buyers are snapping up well priced rural gems and off-plan developments now, before prices rise in the near future. With golf courses, ski resorts, stunning beaches, an excellent climate and year-round holiday appeal, the entire region is destined to enjoy similar growth to Southern Spain some twenty years ago.
Second homebuyers, holiday makers and property investors are all flocking to Calabria to make the most of some of the best features that rural Italy has to offer. Property Showrooms has a portfolio of attractive Calabrian properties on its website.
Calabria is now regarded as a strong emerging property market, with high anticipated rental yields in key holiday locations. Indeed, prospects for buy-to-let investors in southern Italian regions are high: domestic demand, complemented by a distinguished international presence, creates a perfect combination for landlords looking forward to having as few vacant weeks a year as possible.