Has The Spanish Break Bubble Burst?

By Mindy Tepy

Since the 1970's along with the rise of the package holiday which guaranteed sun, sea and fun in abundance, the British public has flocked to Spain and particularly the South of Spain. In certain regions of the coast it wouldn't be unusual to find cafes offering English breakfasts or fish and chips. Think of it like this, it is improbable you'll need to translate English to Spanish because the local inhabitants are so well experienced in managing British holidaymakers. Spanish translation to English happens most along the Costa del Sol simply because that is where almost all British vacationers go.

In contrast there are actually much quieter places which will offer a lot more in terms of culture and natural beauty. When you compare cities such as Granada and Salamanca to say Valencia or Bilbao you can see two very different aspects of Spain.

In Salamanca as well as other cities there is an abundance of beautiful traditional architecture which is reminiscent of times gone by when the world was a more simple place and a time when you'd worry about the health of your chickens instead of the health of your bank balance.

In stark comparison to this you have a city like Valencia. Evidence of the 21st century is abundant in the architecture of buildings but also the city itself. The roads have been built in a very properly thought out and deliberate way, with the focus being on functionality.

Then again it would be wrong to label Valencia as a wholly modern 21st century city, indeed there is some amazing architecture from the past within the very heart of the city which reflects the city's seafaring history.

This summer has in reality been fairly different and in lots of ways difficult for Spain. A mix of the economic uncertainty plus a weak euro exchange rate has left the South of Spain with acres of empty beaches and very little in the manner of English to Spanish translation.

According to The Office for National Statistics 15% more Britons holidayed in the UK in comparison to last year and the country which unfortunately missed out most of all was Spain with the volume of visitors down 19%. Just how much of an influence this made on Spanish to English translation is hard to measure however with a lesser number of tourists it is hard to think the industry being at its best.

What many individuals are asking now is has the Spanish bubble burst? The correct answer is no. There will always be some years when because of whatever circumstance tourism will suffer, but because of its location and climate Spain will always appeal to tourists. Additionally it is a necessary part of the Spanish economy so as far as they are concerned it doesn't really matter where tourists come from, so long as they come.

The recent headline that Michelle Obama is going to be travelling to Spain for a holiday will be eagerly anticipated by many in Spain and after the country was crowned as World Cup winners she should arrive in a country full of energy and optimism about their future.

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