Overseas property buyers have been advised to consider purchasing a residence in the Costa del Sol.

Sean Collins, managing director of Pure International, stated that growing competition from emerging markets have made some people turn their backs on Spain.

Speaking to the Telegraph, he said this has resulted in lots of people missing out on potential opportunities within the country.

Mr Collins praised the “great value” of some properties in areas such as the Costa del Sol, as well as the fact that it is a safe place in which to invest.

This, he said, gives it a distinct edge over less-established locations such as those in eastern Europe.

He commented: “Values in emerging markets have accelerated at such a pace that there’s no real reward compared with the risk.”

Mr Collins added that whereas some emerging markets lack modern infrastructure and direct flights, the Costa del Sol has “excellent” facilities and is easy to reach.

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

Holidaymakers have been advised to see past myths surrounding certain parts of Spain by industry analysts.

Go2Spain said the Costa del Sol is widely perceived by leisure travellers as being “too touristy”.

However, the organisation has stated that this is not the case in every part of the region, as there are still peaceful and unspoiled locations in the vicinity.

The resort of Nerja was highlighted as one such place, as it has remained relatively unchanged in the last few decades and is just 30 minutes away from Malaga Airport.

Furthermore, the Costa del Sol was said to have a large number of villages with traditional buildings among the “fragrant” countryside of Andalucia.

Go2Spain commented: “There is plenty of Spanish-style accommodation on offer, all the better to enjoy the glorious sandy beaches and a mixture of Baroque and Moorish architecture.”

This comes after UK newspaper the Telegraph described the Costa del Sol as a “huge popular location” for British property buyers.

More people are using Monarch Airlines’ scheduled services, new data from the carrier has revealed.

The services in question include flights to Spain and Gibraltar, which may alert potential property investors who are assessing their buying options in these areas.

High visitor numbers to a country often make it a more sought-after investment property location, as overseas buyers have more of a market to target.

Monarch Airlines stated that there was a 9.5 per cent increase in passenger numbers in March, compared to the same month in 2007.

This year’s March passengers figures of 281,994 were up 24,461 on March 2007’s figures of 257,533.

Both Monarch Airlines’ scheduled and charter services reportedly carried a combined total of 501,017 passengers during the course of March 2008.

Alicante, Malaga and Murcia are among the 11 Spanish destinations Monarch Airlines flies to from the UK.

Areas such as the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol are still popular locations for foreign property buyers, a British newspaper has revealed.

According to the Telegraph, the Spanish coastline is still a “big draw” for overseas investors, partly because it is so easy to get to.

This, it stated, is despite the growing trend of foreign buyers looking for possible investment opportunities further inland.

The Telegraph added that the Costas are also successfully facing off competition from les-established locations in other parts of the world, such as eastern Europe.

Commenting on its appeal to investors, the newspaper said: “It is certainly facing much stiffer competition. Nevertheless, it remains a hugely popular destination.”

The publication stated that the region is appealing to different types of buyers, such as retirees who are planning to live abroad full-time and those who are seeking financial returns from their investment.

Spain was recently identified as the most popular location among British buyers in a poll by A Place in the Sun magazine.

British Airways (BA) has confirmed that it is to begin operating new flights between the UK and Spain.

The carrier will roll out services to places such as Alicante and Palma from Gatwick Airport ahead of this year’s peak summer holiday season.

Routes to other Spanish destinations including Ibiza and Malaga will also be added to its timetables.

Meanwhile, BA is also planning to add extra flights to Spain from other London-based airports.

Consumers will soon be able to travel on an extra route between Heathrow and Malaga, as well as flights from London City Airport to Barcelona.

The number of extra services reflects the continued interest in Spain and demand for convenient travel links with the country.

BA’s new services could directly contribute to an increase in visitor numbers to places such as Alicante and Malaga, thereby boosting their appeal to British property investors.

A Place in the Sun recently revealed that Spain is the number one location for buyers of foreign property from the UK.

One airline is interested in starting routes to Alicante, Malaga and other Spanish destinations from Norwich International Airport this year, according to the managing director of the East Anglian hub.

Richard Jenner told the Norwich Evening News that these services - known as sun routes - could be offered again in the coming months, following Flybe’s decision to cancel them last July.

More routes into Spain from the UK may alert property investors to the country as accessibility to a nation is traditionally an important consideration for people who buy bricks and mortar abroad.

Mr Jenner told the newspaper: “Since Flybe pulled off that route we have been talking to about ten airlines - most of them want to start from next summer but there is one interested in starting this year.”

He added that the airport hopes to announce further information within the next two weeks.

Earlier this week, budget airline easyJet started routes from Manchester Airport to Malaga, having set up a base at the north-west hub.

A British family who have lived on the Costa del Sol for the last five years have been able to make the step up from renting to owning a property in 2008, it has emerged.

Tracey Stratton-Smith and Richard Choo got on to the Spanish property ladder for the first time when they bought a four-bedroom villa close to Marbella for €690,000 (£525,000), reports Easier.

With a bit of help from Duchy Estates, the couple - who are from Polperro and London respectively - managed to purchase a property they are particularly happy they were able to find.

Commenting on their new home, Ms Stratton-Smith remarked: “The French architect had opted for 600 mm-thick walls and at nine years old the property had had plenty of time to settle so anything structural that was going to fail would have already done so.”

She added that the West Hampstead couple who owned the villa before had looked after it well, meaning no major renovation work was needed.

A number of Briton are attracted to living in the Costa del Sol, with the 300-plus days of sunshine every year playing a part in many people’s decisions to relocate from the UK.

A new book, which includes “valuable information” for people looking to move to Spain, has been released.

Various issues are covered in the publication, including Spanish lifestyle, how to choose a location and the best ways to settle in the Mediterranean country.

We’ve Gone to Spain is written by Tom Provan, a former marketing and public relations professional who left England for southern Europe. Much of what is included in the book revolves around his personal experiences.

A great deal of what is stated is positive about the country, while a number of the stories he recalls may make readers laugh.

Mr Provan and his family chose the Costa del Sol as a place to reside, but the book highlights the benefits of a number of areas - including the Costa Brava.

In the internet version of the publication, the writer states: “The secret to success in buying the right property is the right research. And in every country the main consideration is location, location, location.”

Spain is still a dream destination for many British people looking to purchase overseas property, it has been claimed.

According to southern Spanish newspaper Sur, many UK buyers are undeterred by recent negative publicity surrounding foreign property investment and view Spain as one of the most desirable places in the world to own a home.

Sur made these comments after attending the recent Homebuyers and Property Investors Exhibition at the ExCel centre in London, where many Britons spoke to the newspaper about their hopes of moving to Spain or buying a second home on the southern Costas.

Rebekah Lowe of Livingstone Estates told Sur that although some professional investors may be tempted by emerging markets where prices are lower, people looking to buy a property for their own use will continue to be attracted to Spain.

“Spain is for living in and people will always want Spanish properties,” she commented.

According to a recent report from Spanish property website Kyero.com, coastal regions such as the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol remain “at the fore of the public psyche” for UK people hoping to move abroad.

A new marina is scheduled to be constructed in Mijas in order to boost the number of berths in the Costa del Sol region.

The Empresa Publica de Puertos de Andalucia, or Public Company of Andalucian Ports, reports that the new development will contain between 800 and 1,000 berths following an investment of €50 million (£38 million).

More investment is likely to follow, while there are also plans to incorporate two docks for transatlantic cruisers, which could increase access to the coast for tourists visiting the area.

Hotels, shops and other leisure facilities will be built around the marina, and Homes Worldwide suggests that now could be the ideal time to purchase a property nearby.

The Spanish Fiestas website states that “Mijas Pueblo stands high up the mountain above the coastal resorts and is a popular half-day excursion from the Costa del Sol, whilst Mijas Costa is the resort on the coast below which attracts mass tourism to its many attractions.”