Added: ( September 2008)
Valencia takes Pole, Revelling in the Success of its Street Circuit
No lesser a figure than Bernie Ecclestone has described the Valencia Street circuit as the best street circuit in the world and this year’s grand prix in the city as the first of 50 years of F1 in the lovely, mediterranean city of Valencia. A global tv audience of 597 million took in the spectacle that was the “ Telefonica European Grand Prix” and some spectacular tv footage of the city’s eye catching urban street circuit and breathtaking “City of the Sciences”. A total of 147 tv stations from all over the world covered the event, 86 European stations, 46 Asian, 11 American and 4 African Pacific. One hundred and fifty cameras around the track gave a veritable bird’s eye view of the event as it unfolded.
F1 drivers and the international press corp were effusive in their praise of the street circuit as well as the city. Jenson Button spoke of his love of the city describing it as “fantastic” and “really beautiful”. Fernando Alonso compared the circuit to a “savage American track” while his nemesis Lewis Hamilton declared the track to be “fantastic”. The Italian daily La Repubblica told its readers about the “spectacular” nature of the circuit with El Clarin from Buenos Aires characterising the street circuit as “really impressive”.
In all over 200,000 F1 fans thronged the city for the event bringing an estimated €70 million to the local economy. Formula 1 will stay in Valencia for at least another 6 years with a possibility of a 5 year extension. If Bernie Ecclestone is to be believed, F1 may will become a permanent fixture in Valencia ; a city and region that is increasingly being favourably compared to Florida and gaining the monicker of the “Florida of Europe” which is quite understandable given its micro climate and almost 320 days of sunshine annually. Tourism is now a 12 month enterprise with over 2 million tourists visiting the city (population of 810,000 inhabitants) annually which is an increase of over 200% since 2000. An indication of the increasing cachet that the city has gained is the fact that 10% of tourists are now visiting the city via cruise ships, a market that was non existent 10 years ago.
With the return of the America’s Cup in 2011 (all going well), Valencia is increasingly attractive for property investors especially those wishing to purchase “buy to let” properties, particularly short term “buy to lets”. Starting in January, Valencia Property Hound will launch a property management company directed at “short term rental” properties. In addition we will also be offering yacht chartering services from the Royal Juan Carlos 1st Marina of Valencia.
Valencia Property Buyers should therefore make Valencia Property Hound their first port of call whether it is Valencia Property Search, Valencia Property Rental or Valencia F1 Property that is required : Valencia’s Premier Property Search and Property Investment Company fits the bill.
Article by Dermot Quinn, Valencia Property Hound Ltd
