19 August 2008

Margarita (Caribbean) tourism up by 15%

When it comes to investment opportunities in the Caribbean, Margarita is something of an undiscovered jewel. Its huge potential arguably owes more to geography than simple economics. It is the largest of three islands in the state of Nueva Esparta, its smaller neighbours being Coche and Cubagua.

Margarita sits off the north east coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. With over 160 Km of coastline there are a plethora of unspoilt beaches for tourists to enjoy all year round. This is great news for investors looking to profit from high-end holiday rental.

The large Santiago Marino airport makes this particular piece of paradise extremely accessible; with regular flights from Europe, North America and beyond. Furthermore, ferries to the mainland and flights to-and-from Venezuela add to the convenience. This does not only assist with the practicalities of owning a property in Margarita but also allows continued expansion of the tourist industry.

The tourist industry is indeed expanding and this is reflected in the latest statistics. Tourism to the island increased by approximately 14% in 2007 and current figures suggest a further increase in excess of 15% for 2008. Overall, traveller entry between January and April has increased steadily by nearly 300,000 since 2004. All this strongly points towards the prospect of dependable tourist income for those investing in property on Margarita.

In short, with blue seas, sandy beaches and money to be made; Margarita is surely the very place every property investor is dreaming about.