Upcoming sports events in Malaga

March 16th, 2010

Serena Williams in MalagaSeen its success last year, the Andalusian Tourist Board has decided to re-advertise in this issue of Fitur the major sporting events as part of tourism promotion. Golf, tennis, sailing, motorcycling, cycling, triathlon and horse races will be the protagonists of the major international events taking place in the region.

Thus, Andalusia will be the scene of some major international sporting events, through the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Sports, combining sport and tourism. Hence, tourists will be attracted to the community while promoting the sport the same time.
One of the top events will be the Andalucía Golf Open to be held from March 26th to 29th in Malaga. This will be the first test of the calendar of the PGA European Tour staged on the continent and which will distribute one million Euros in prizes. This sport will play a special role among the top level competitions which the region will host this year.

The next October will be held the first edition of the Valderrama Masters, an appointment which will conclude the PGA calendar, which means that Andalusia is both the starting point and the closure of the European Tour.

Further information is available at this article about sports in Malaga.

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Andalusia, aroma of incense and orange blossom

March 15th, 2010

Each Easter, the Andalusian streets make vibrate the senses and the beaches, parks and heritage cities are getting ready to receive their visitors. Breathe in the subtle aroma that permeates the city of Malaga, a mixture of incense and orange blossoms and experience the deep routed tradition of andalusian Easter processions.

With the arrival of spring Andalusia transforms and the Andalusians get out into the streets to celebrate the “Passion” in the midst of popular fervor. Religious images of great artistic wealth are carried through the streets amid the warm light of candles during the easter processions.

The traditional, multitudinous “Madrugá” in Seville is a unique experience; live the passion with “El Cautivo” in Malaga; go after the passing of “Christ of the Gypsies” in the hills of Sacromonte in Granada; witness the solemnity of the Good Friday with “Santo Encierro” in Huelva; witness the departure of “El Abuelo” from the cathedral of Jaen; feel the passion and commitment of brotherhood and fraternity in Cadiz; walk the streets of Cordoba among the silence and the song of a “Saeta” or witness meetings of the brotherhoods of Almeria.

The traveler who chooses to stay in Andalusia during the Holy Week has a host of proposals to enjoy a memorable vacation. The plurality and complementarity of tourism offers, climate, communications and hotel infrastructure and the hospitality of the people have converted Andalusia into one of the preferred tourist destinations in Europe.

Andalusia, with more than 800 kilometers of coastline, reveals beaches which are amazing for their variety of landscapes; from the wide sandy beaches of the provinces of Cadiz and Huelva, to the cliffs and hidden bays between the coast of Granada, Costa del Sol or Almeria.
Moreover, the diversity, size and the environmental wealth of the Andalusian territory are impressive. In Andalusia are situated the highest peaks of the Iberian Peninsula in Sierra Nevada; extensive wetlands and the marshes of the Guadalquivir; the dense forests of the Natural Park Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas or the volcanic deserts and uninhabited stretches of coast, like the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata in Almeria.

The cultural wealth of Andalusia will transport you to the earliest ages, with an important archaeological heritage of different cultures and civilizations which settled in this beautiful and rich land of southern Spain.
The Alhambra in Granada, the Mosque of Cordoba and the Giralda in Seville are monumental milestones of mankind, a vast artistic legacy inherited from an ancient history. Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy either the cities of Ubeda and Baeza in Jaen, both World Heritage Sites, or towns like Arcos de la Frontera in Cadiz, Ronda in Malaga and Moguer in Huelva.

And if your passion is golf, Andalusia is the best Spanish region to practice this sport. The excellent climate allows you to play golf during all months of the year. The fields are located in privileged areas, with landscapes of great beauty or nearby tropical beaches.

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The triumph of accesible Luxury

February 26th, 2010

The Chef Dani Gracía has opened his most personal challenge in midst Puerto Banús: Lamoraga Ibérica pretends to be the perfect place to enjoy quality gastronomy at reasonable prices for everybody.

A place to meet “for my parents, my friends, for my people, normal people”. That way defines the Chef Dani García, Star Michelin thanks to the prestigious Restaurant Calima in Marbella, what for him is going to be his latest challenge: Lamoraga Ibérica in the centre of Puerto Banús. A restaurant with Japanese esthetic and spirit where you can enjoy typical mediterranean and andalusian flavors. Without doubt, for the most known Chef of the Costa del Sol, it was both a challenge and an aim to “open a Restaurant where people can enjoy a high quality cuisine for an accessible price”. Lamoraga represents the high cuisine at low cost.
The best of all is the concept: “It’s a Tapas Bar like others; clients arrive, order a beer and their Tapa of Ensaladilla rusa or whatsoever they wish, they pay and leave”, says García. The subtle difference to other Tapas Bars is that the arrangement of the Restaurant is such that the client can watch the cooks at work (the walls are of glass) meanwhile they sit at a spectacular bar like in a Japanese restaurant, but with Iberic touch (the wood is from Oak).
And the prices are accessible. There are Tapas from 3 or 4 Euros onwards and with 25 Euros each person you can eat very well.
From where comes this mixture Japo-Andaluz? “In Japan there is a lot of seafood like in Andalucía, although they prepare it in a completely different way. And we would like to innovate in the mixture”, explains Dani Garía.
The restaurant has space for 50 personas and several more on the terrace.

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Malaga, world number one destination of choice for the British during January

February 17th, 2010

Malaga is the world’s first destination chosen by the British in January, according to a study published by the travel search engine Skyscanner Europe, based on the number of searches for cheap flights last month to departures from the UK.
According to the document, Spain dominates the classification of searches done in January and Malaga stands as a leader.

Four cities in the country followed in the top ten: Alicante ranks second, third Tenerife, Palma de Mallorca the fifth and Lanzarote the eighth. In this decade are also Faro (Portugal), London (United Kingdom), New York (USA), Dalaman (Turkey) and Amsterdam (Netherlands).
For Skyscanner, the presence of so many Spanish destinations in the top positions offers evidence that the sun and beaches remains a top priority for British travelers. However, the presence of flights to London, New York and Amsterdam indicate that remain regular trips to the big cities. The other Spanish cities among the 50 most wanted by the British are Barcelona, Murcia, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Fuerteventura and Gerona.

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German tourism requires a “green” Andalusia

February 15th, 2010

The Council for Tourism takes full account of the German tour operators, airlines and market intermediaries during the Tourism Forum.
As the Slogan says “Andalucía te quiere” (Andalusia loves you). And if you are one of the 1.1 million German tourists who visit the region each year, it loves you even more.
Council for Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía renewed the compromise with one of the strongest sectors in tourism which provides a regular expenditure higher than the average, with a longer stay and one of the best retention rates.
The companies agreed that “the German tourism demand is consistent with what offers Andalusia” and highlighted two perceptions: Tourists want surroundings which are based on the respect for the natural environment and also demand more suited prices than Andalusia has been offering during the last years.

Donana

Donana

Many northern countries are already entering fully into the “green economy”, for instance: It makes sense that a German might be interested in how much CO2 emissions is generating his stay in a certain destination. The German tourist requires an environmentally friendly offer and is not willing to pay for it with increased taxes.
Although Germany will certify in 2010 a financial improvement, the review of budgets for holidays is downward.
Tourists are willing to pay less for their holidays, and prefer to secure their cost by all-inclusive packages.
In this context and with the extraordinary price competition in the Mediterranean, Andalusia is an expensive destination, as advocated by the representatives of the three major tour operators (TUI, Thomas Cook and Rewe).
Improvement options are also including new segments such as Golf and culture, though without losing sight of the fact that the tourists come mainly for the sun and the beaches.

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