Benidorm Spends

people no longer can afford to buy presents

Bars, shops and restaurants in Benidorm are still feeling the pinch as the recession continues. In what should be the boom month of the year, August, many businesses which rely on tourism are not doing nearly as well as in the past.

Hotels still have high occupancy rates, though more and more are adopting the 'all inclusive' system which tends to keep guests tied to the hotel rather than venture out to bars and restaurants. It's a similar story in tourist apartments where guests really are self catering, buying food and drink in from the supermarket and preparing it themselves.

Figures show that spending per person around Benidorm is 15% down on last year as visitors tighten their belts on holiday. The worst hit sector of the retail economy are the souvenir shops as it seems that people no longer can afford to buy presents for the folks back home or are spending less money on cheaper products.

9 August 2010 Stephen White.