Originally Posted by cricketman (Post 8382158)

Excellent article, more so for the comments than for the article itself.

I actually thought the comments were quite balanced, There were 5 or so who were very pleased the guiris were going because the "time of the English colonies of Queen Victoria are in the past" and "the British cant even say Adios after 10 years of living here" and "the British want Spain to be a cheap place for them, well hard luck!"

One guy said a British person he knows "couldnt stop crying" becuase he cant rent out his two flats or sell his villa in Calahonda for 300,000 euros even though he bought them dead cheap years ago.

I think Spanish people in the area feel a little abused by the British who have come to places like the Costa del sol, benefitted hugely by the rise and property prices and not offered back anything to Spanish society.

A few years ago, after uni, I did some work experience in Seguros Vitalicio in Malaga. My boss was really nice and helped me a lot, but the best thing is we'd go for coffees a couple of times a day with my work mates in the office. They really liked me because they said in all their years of knowing British people on the Costa Del Sol I was the only one they knew who spoke more than 3 words of Spanish and went to Spanish cafeterias and stuff like that. They were saying that Spaniards dont even get to benefit from their spending as Brits go to their own restaurants and own shops and even schools.

Now, I'm not saying this to big myself up, but to ask. Why should Spanish people care if the British went back home? I can't think of any reasons. :thumbdown:

Originally Posted by Rotor (Post 8390071)

Because their economy is dependant on foreigners visiting/living here , without the Costas much of Spain would be very similar to Morocco /Northern Africa.(okay some still is)

No British/foreigners equals economical disaster.

Originally Posted by SaritaBarcelona (Post 8390091)

I'm afraid I agree with Rotor, if all the foreigners stay at home, then what? Spain is heavily reliant on the service industry. The tourist industry gives people jobs, not well-paid, granted, but jobs nonetheless. Malaga has the highest unemployment rate in Spain if I remember rightly, and we certainly don't want it to keep on rising.

Originally Posted by SaritaBarcelona (Post 8390176)

I certainly don't agree with the Africa comparison! But the tourism aspect is vitally important. The major of Torremolinos, for example, is going all out to promote tourism (in particular quality tourism) as he sees it as the town's best hope of earning money. They are keen to encourage sports tourism, trade fairs, cultural events, all of this is tourism, not just people coming over to drink and lie on the beaches (and I'm not criticising that as such!). Some of the facilities here are world class (Olympic pool, etc). If a few poverty stricken Brits leave I don't think it will make much difference, but tourism in general is vital to the economy.

Originally Posted by cricketman (Post 8390126)

You havent got a clue what you are talking about. The Africa comments are entirely insulting and not at all accurate.

In terms of GDP per capita which is the best measure of wealth; the CIA factbook (which I know you are fond of) has Spain and the UK neck and neck! i.e. Spain is as rich as the UK! Morocco is 15 times poorer than Spain.

CIA factbook figures for GDP
UK = $36,000
Spain = $35,500Morocco = $2,900

They say residential and holiday tourism (i.e. foreigners holidaying and living in Spain) contributes to 10% of Spain's economy. So removing this isnt going to turn Spain into Morocco is it? :rofl:

However, I prefer the IMF figures which has Spain's economy a little behing the UK, but nowhere near any of the African countries:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...al)_per_capita

These figures are entirely convincing, but I'm sure they wont stop you on your crucade to patronise and belittle Spain and its people.

Btw the only place I've seen ressembling North Africa in Spain is the desert in Almeria. An area mainly inhabited by Moroccans and Brits.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 8390448)

Tourism is certainly an important part of the economy on the Costas. The spanish I know recognise that. Unemployment went up cerca 2% again in February, mainly the service sector and construction. There was a photo in yesterday's Sur which showed a massive queue outside an INEM office in the region.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 8391131)

Quote:
They really liked me because they said in all their years of knowing British people on the Costa Del Sol I was the only one they knew who spoke more than 3 words

Wow! They should consider themselves very lucky to meet someone as gifted as you, especially after all those years of meeting Brits with only three words of Spanish.

Quote:
You havent got a clue what you are talking about.

Not everyone is as clever as you, be patient with the lesser mortals.

Quote:
I sense some British people on here like to overstate their own importance.

Luv it!

Why is it assumed that Brits on the Costa only speak a few words of spanish. Some do but many British families have been here since the 70's, they are second and third generation and there are many anglo-spanish families. It's not Timbuktoo. Just cos you struggle with spanish words don't assume that all the British do!