There is only one Ibiza. Or not. The overwhelming tourism success of the Balearic island, which together with Formentera exceeded 3.7 million tourists and mobilized billions of euros last year, has sparked interest beyond Pitiusas and even beyond the Mediterranean borders. On the other side of the peninsula, on the northern coast, there are those who propose ways to replicate the formula by adapting it to a different climate and landscape. Ultimately, the scenario may be different, but the northern coast offers an alternative to the saturated Mediterranean market.

There are those who see it with interest.

And those who looked at him with concern.

“Ibiza of the North”. The concept of northern Ibiza may seem like a pipe dream, given that Ibiza is one of the Mediterranean’s biggest tourist destinations and much of its appeal comes from the landscape and climate it enjoys thanks to its latitude. contradiction. But that’s what AB Capital wants to promote on the Cantabrian coast.

The company, headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, transferred its interests in some land on the coast of Ribamontán to the Sea between Loredo and Langre to build a large tourist complex connected to a golf course. As explained, its purpose Montañés’ Diary“To turn Cantabria into the Ibiza of the North”. In fact, this is the slogan that the society offers to local developers and builders.

A controversial area. The Balearic investment company is not the only company interested in the land, a large area being auctioned as part of the demise of the now-bankrupt Emilio Bolada construction company.

Montañés’ Diary A few days ago he announced – referring to the mayor of Ribamontán al Mar – that the City Council was aware of the existence of at least three other parties interested in the plans: Sunny Resorts, a company led by Pelayo Cortina Koplowitz; businessman Antonio Casado Briz, who currently has different real estate businesses spread throughout the region; and a third company, whose name has not been disclosed but is known to be headquartered in Madrid.

Hotel and residential use. The fact that the tender attracted the attention of many investors in the country gives an idea about the attractiveness of the land located approximately 200 meters from the beach. And most importantly, the interest aroused by the possibility of making something out of them. The Cantabrian newspaper states that the lands auctioned by Emilio Bolado total 7,450,000 square meters, but not all of this surface has the same classification or protection. Whoever buys it will be able to benefit from less than 355,200 m2 at the urban planning level. Its development will also require making deals with other owners and facing years of transactions.

What the regulations clearly reflect is what their purpose should be. Envisioned uses are hotels and residences with 157 to 350 homes, depending on the resource used. The Ribamontán General Plan, approved three years ago, clarifies that residential construction in the surrounding area is tied to the development of a project that has been on the table for some time: a golf course.

A project with tradition. Although this move by AB Capital arouses interest due to its desire to create an “Ibiza of the North”, it is not the first time that the sector has looked eagerly at the Cantabrian coast. Grupo Loredo, which went bankrupt more than a decade ago, had in its time set its sights on the Laredo land to unveil a large and ambitious 45,000-square-foot residential and hotel complex that included the construction of an 18-hole golf course and 350 homes. .

Sunny Restors, one of the companies currently showing interest, has considered betting in the region in 2021 and creating the country’s “largest golf complex in the north”, an ambitious €35 million project that would also include a hotel and resort. .

“We don’t want to be the Ibiza of the North”. What was a commercial hook for the Majorcan investment fund is, to put it mildly, an unwelcome outlook for at least some of the local population. Reflected this way A few days ago The Cantabristas political formation insisted: “No, we do not want to live in the ‘Ibiza of the north’, or become a tourist colony where the few get rich.” He therefore asserted his “radical” opposition to what he saw as the “speculative tourism model” and demanded that the regional government take over the land.

The formation, which received 5,470 votes in the 2023 elections, said: “Cantabristas wants you to guarantee protection and purchase the lands of Loredo in order to prevent the construction of the touristic macro-urbanization that a Balearic group proposes to build between Langre and Loredo.” , which leaves him outside the Chamber.

Beyond Cantabria. But the concept of “ibization” in the north goes beyond Cantabria. voice of galicia recently pointed out that the Mariña of Lugo in Galicia is facing a similar process; but in this case the reason may be something else: the “disproportionate increase” of tourist apartments, which is felt through two direct effects. The first of these is the difficulties that salaried families, including those who earn their living in the hospitality industry, face in finding affordable housing in the area.

Secondly, a noticeable increase in the costs of accommodation for visitors. The Galician newspaper assures that an apartment, which until recently could be rented for 1,500 euros for a month and a half in the summer, now requires a much higher expense, and can even exceed 8,000 euros. A similar phenomenon has been recorded in the Pyrenees. Country Years ago, he warned of another “imification” that was making it harder for workers on the ski slopes and in the tourism sector in the mountain towns of Catalonia and Aragon to face accommodation costs.

Alternative to a saturated Mediterranean. The coasts of Cantabria, Asturia and Galicia have been attracting the attention of Spanish and foreign tourists for some time. This is not new. However, one more value that I insist on has recently been added to its mild climate, beaches, views and cuisine. Sun: Valencia, where record registrations and tourist rentals are growing, represents an alternative to the saturated and expensive Spanish Mediterranean, where the Balearic Islands and Murcia are located. The British newspaper actually presents the Galician coast as an affordable option for tourists accustomed to Ibiza, and also has “beaches as wild as the nightlife”.

Cover image | Joseph Spiral (Flickr)

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