Holidaymakers are increasingly booking their trips to Spain on the internet, new research has found.

According to Google Spain’s travel division, 31 per cent of all holidays in the country during the year to date have been booked online.

Javier Gonzalez-Soria, head of the organisation, said this figure is expected to increase over the next few years as more people embrace the internet as a means of purchasing goods and services.

He said the growth of the web has “radically changed” the behaviour of travel consumers in the last decade.

This was largely attributed to the fact that leading tourist destinations such as Spain have taken full advantage of the opportunities this medium has to offer.

For example, the country was praised for using online advertising and making itself visible on search engines.

This comes after online travel agency Freedom Direct revealed that the strong euro has not impacted on the number of bookings for Spain.

The fundamental factors which support a foreign property investment can be found in Spain, experts have stated.

According to ShelterOffshore.com, overseas property investors need their chosen market to meet certain criteria, such as being accessible and offering a modern infrastructure.

The online portal said this can easily be found in Spain, along with attractions such as the Mediterranean coastline and its good climate.

ShelterOffshore.com said; “There are genuine, fundamental, undeniable and unshakeable reasons why people want to holiday in Spain.”

The website added that the country is also a very familiar and established destination for people in the UK.

This could be an important issue for prospective buyers, as ShelterOffshore.com said they should consider whether a resort has the longevity to make it a sustainable investment.

According to figures from Holiday-Rentals, about one in three British-owned holiday homes in Europe are located in Spain.

Many holidaymakers in Scotland are choosing to take breaks in traditional Spanish hotspots, it has been revealed.

Rick Green, chief executive of Flyglobespan, stated that flight sales from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen have gone up this year.

Speaking to the Daily Record, he said services to established European resorts such as Alicante are proving to be especially popular with consumers.

This suggests that people in Scotland are not being put off Spain by the fact that the pound is now at an all-time low against the euro.

Mr Green commented: “Although we are seeing strong demand for our non-Euro routes, our traditional European summer holiday destinations are still the most popular.”

He added that there has actually been an upturn in demand for flights to resorts including Alicante.

This area was recently flagged up by the Guardian as a good location for holidaymakers from the UK.

According to the newspaper, Alicante is a “real” city that offers a more authentic Spanish experience than some tourist hotspots.

A golf fan from Scotland has spoken highly of the facilities on offer in Spain’s Costa Blanca.

Alan White, from Port Seton in East Lothian, said lovers of the sport can enjoy the game on numerous courses in the region.

Speaking to Sunday Mail, he revealed that he likes it so much that he has chosen to purchase a property in the area.

Mr White told the newspaper that by dividing his time between the UK and Spain, he will be able to indulge his passion for the sport.

He commented: “It’s perfect for a golfer like me but it’s also great for all my family because we’re very close to some great shopping centres and restaurants.”

Mr White added that buying a holiday home in Costa Blanca is the “best move we’ve ever made”.

This comes after David Brice of Golf International told PGATour.com that a growing number of American golf fans are choosing to visit the Spanish Costas.

Consumers in Scotland are not allowing the global economic downturn to put them off their holidays, it has been revealed.

According to the Daily Record, holiday firm Barrhead Travel has seen an eight per cent increase in the number of bookings this year.

Bill Munro, spokesperson for Barrhead Travel, said that established European destinations have been especially popular, even though the pound is currently much weaker than the euro.

He commented: “Some are shying away from Euroland and going to countries based on price, but many know that for quality Spain is still number one.”

Speaking to the newspaper, Mr Munro added that Spain is still cheaper than the UK “by far”.

This backs up recent comments from the Post Office, which said Spain is currently the cheapest country in the eurozone.

Interest in the top end of the Costa del Sol’s housing market is still very high, according to an expert.

Barbara Wood from The Property Finders said that affluent property buyers are still keen to snap up a residence in the region.

Speaking to the Times, she revealed that houses that are valued at about £624,000 or above are in high demand because they are in short supply.

This means that the slump which has hit many cheaper houses in the Costa del Sol is not affecting the market as a whole.

Ms Wood commented: “Every client I’ve had this year has had little need for finance.

“They have been watching the market and they are deciding it’s time to start looking in earnest.”

She added that while investors will not get “vast sums” knocked off the asking price of a property, they will not have to compromise on any other requirements.

This, she said, would be “crucial” for top-end buyers.

The Telegraph recently described the Costa del Sol as a “hugely popular location” for British property buyers.

A growing number of American golf fans are choosing to visit the Spanish Costas, it has been revealed.

According to David Brice of Golf International, Spain saw a double digit increase in the number of visitors from the US last year.

Writing for PGATour.com, he said this occurrence is practically unheard of in most European countries, as an increase of about six per cent would be considered a major achievement.

Mr Brice partially attributed this to the growing international profile of Spain’s golf courses, such as Valderrama in the Costa del Sol.

Commenting on this trend, he said: “Americans becoming increasingly aware that the Iberian Peninsula is filled with everything they are looking for in a destination.”

He added that the dollar can go much further in Spain than in many other European countries.

This comes after easyJet highlighted the Costa del Sol as a hotspot for British tourists during the recent bank holiday weekend.

The strength of the euro against the pound is not putting British holidaymakers off visiting Spain, it has been revealed.

Online travel agency Freedom Direct stated that in recent months, there has been no difference in the number of bookings for the European country.

According to the company, holidaymakers are becoming very good at finding the best deals, as many have snapped up bargain holidays in places such as the Spanish Costas.

Nick Jackson, spokesperson for Freedom Direct, said the findings show

 that economic concerns are not affecting people’s holiday decisions.

He commented: “Holidays in Spain are the unbeatable favourite for families in the summer time.”

Mr Jackson added that the number of Britons who are heading abroad will go up again this year, despite the current problems in the global economy.

This comes after Leeds Bradford International Airport announced that Thomas Cook Airlines will begin providing extra flights to Spain later this year.

Expatriates in the UK are not moving to countries such as Spain just to enjoy its sunshine, new research has revealed.

According to Robinsons International, a number of factors have left Britons extremely disenchanted with life at home, so much so that a record number are now moving overseas.

The study showed that issues such as the growing population of the UK, loutish behaviour and the high cost of living have prompted many to look at living abroad.

Figures also revealed that some Britons intend to leave because they are unhappy with current government policies.

Commenting on the findings, Anthony Robinson of Robinsons International said: “It’s perhaps not surprising that so many people are looking for the better standard of living offered by other countries.”

This comes after ShelterOffshore.com revealed that Spain is still one of the most popular foreign locations for British retirees.

The website partly attributed this to its good climate, as it offers much warmer and sunnier conditions than the UK.

The Costa del Sol has seen a high number of visitors in recent days which bodes well for the summer season, say tourist chiefs.

According to the Association of Hoteliers on the Costa, there was a strong demand for hotel rooms over the May bank holiday.

Hoteliers said high occupancy levels offset a poor performance at Easter. Brisk business was also recorded in inland areas like Ronda and Antequera, reports TypicallySpanish.com.

The Association of Hoteliers on the Cost’s website offers thousands of pages of information, with links to over 300 hotels and more than 12,000 hotel room.

It claims to offer the largest variety of certified Costa Rican hotels available on the internet, including bed & breakfasts, luxury hotels, mountain lodges and beach resorts.