cruise speed
Decades have passed since Alicante’s real estate scene began expanding beyond its traditional borders. Builders and brokers once chased buyers across Europe, from Russia in turmoil to distant Iceland, and almost every European nation figured into the mix. In the province, foreigners long held sway over the immediate market, shaping roughly half of the activity. That momentum pushed business leaders to widen horizons and start courting buyers from North America.
In response, the Provincial Supporters Association (Provia) has set a plan to promote in the United States as part of a broader, long term strategy to diversify the client base. “This market holds untapped potential and growing interest in Spain and Europe signals a clear opportunity,” says Jesus Ros, the general secretary of the organization.
Ros notes that, beyond the classic residential tourist footfall on the Costa Blanca, remote work now allows professionals to live abroad for extended periods. Such stays could increase American inquiries and arrivals while making Alicante a practical base for travel to other European hubs. The region’s air links also support a state-backed strategy for those traveling across Europe for business or other reasons.
overview of the effort
In recent years Provia intensified outreach to attract international buyers seeking a second home on the Costa Blanca. The campaign broadened beyond the United Kingdom and Scandinavia to include Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland, and those markets now rival or exceed earlier volumes in several cases.
“We invested heavily in these markets, but they are evolving,” explains Jesualdo Ros. “Now a measured push toward the United States demands real dedication, but it is worth pursuing.”
Who buys the most luxurious homes in the province?
The alliance with local employers’ associations has already yielded steps like requesting industry reports from ICEX and gathering data from platforms such as Airbnb to refine the draw of Alicante. The research highlights the states most active in searches for relocation to the province: California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Ohio. Initial outreach to real estate brokers associations is underway to tailor the market entry, with more details expected in the coming weeks.
First conversations focus on aligning incentives for American buyers and local partners to ensure a smooth introduction to the market. The final strategy details are slated for release soon.
tourist exploitation
Ros points out that Americans buy second homes in the Mediterranean for varied reasons. Some come because a child studied in the area, others purchase a property to spend a few weeks each year while renting it out for tourist income the rest of the time. This approach mirrors patterns seen in other popular destinations, where property is rented for seasonal tourism to maximize return on investment.
Which towns do foreigners prefer to buy a house in Alicante?
Before the pandemic, American visitors to Spain rose from 1.2 to 3.3 million between 2014 and 2019. The covid era paused growth, and the figure has yet to fully rebound. In 2019, Alicante accounted for about 70,000 of the North American visitors, roughly 2 percent of the total.
Direct air connectivity to the United States is a key enabler for these plans. Competitors in the residential tourism space, such as Tenerife, Mallorca, and Malaga, are already pursuing strong flight links. The organizers have submitted requests through forums and industry groups to help administrations facilitate new routes. At a recent conference, officials discussed language tourism benefits and the potential for Alicante to serve as a cruise base. Industry estimates suggest a modest schedule of one or two weekly flights between El Altet and the United States could be feasible.
With more than 60% of newly built homes in the province sold to foreign buyers, developers see clear reason to diversify the buyer pool further and continue expanding the reach into North America.