Could Puerto del Carmen become the Puerto Banus of the Canary Islands? Such a scenario would have appeared highly unlikely to anyone visiting the resort over the last few years. As Lanzarote´s most popular holiday destination has been looking decidedly tired around the edges recently - as thirty years of package tourism has taken its toll on facilities and the infrastructure.
But now plans are afoot to to reinvent tourism in the resort. In order to maintain Puerto del Carmen´s competitiveness against newer and fresher holiday destinations. A project which will is also likely to have serious future implications for the Lanzarote property market - despite the current economic outlook.
Puerto del Carmen was the spot where tourism first really took off on Lanzarote. Transforming a small fishing village called La Tiñosa into the most popular resort on the island. Attracting holiday makers and property investors in droves. With the latter drawn by the year round returns available from renting out villas and holiday apartments in Puerto del Carmen.
And now the resort is about to undergo another metamorphosis. As island tourist authorities press the button on a multi-million euro project designed to update and improve Puerto del Carmen’s overall tourist offering.
Much of this work will be conceyrated in and around the resorts main beachfront strip, the Avenida de las Playas. A 6km long stretch of bars and restaurants – where pedestrians have to fight for limited pavement space in close proximity to two lanes of traffic. Against the backdrop of a kaleidoscope of neon lit signage. Which creates a rather downmarket and dated impression.
Mindful of the fact that tourists could star defecting to more modern alternatives the island authorities are now pressing ahead with a project to create more pavement space for pedestrians and harmonise the shop fronts and fascias along the strip – in order to create a more aesthetically pleasing impression.
More ambitiously the project also encompasses a scheme to transform the Old Town harbour area – currently home to a few old fishing boast and excursion vessels – into a luxury marina. With moorings for luxury yachts. Which it is hoped will attract a more affluent tourist to the area whilst providing some competition for the hugely successful marina at Puerto Calero, which is located just a few miles south along the coast.
Work is expected to last at least twelve months. But once completed – and in tandem with the new golf course opening on the outkistrts of the resort – is expected to have a positive impact upon both tourist numbers and the prices of property for sale in Puerto del Carmen and the surrounding environs.
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