Residential golf tourism Costa del Sol

Residential golf tourism, the Costa del Sol leader, generates an annual economic impact of €15.937 billion.

The golf-related real estate market is experiencing a dynamic period in Spain. According to data from the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, golf tourism generates an annual economic impact of €15.937 billion, boosting tourism, employment, and the real estate market. The Costa del Sol, with more than 70 golf courses, leads golf-related residential tourism in Europe, attracting thousands of international buyers each year in search of second homes and quality of life.

In this context, companies such as Taylor Wimpey, a leading developer in the second home market, are strengthening their position with frontline golf developments designed to meet the growing demand for homes in exclusive natural and sporting settings.

Golf attracts long-term visitors in terms of tourist arrivals and length of stay. Before the pandemic, the average stay of a golf tourist was almost 12 days, compared to 7.4 for the average tourist, with an average stay spending €3,850 (€324 per day), according to the Royal Spanish Golf Federation. This reflects a high-net-worth visitor. Furthermore, golf builds bridges with the real estate market: many tourists end up purchasing a second home in Spain to enjoy the sport regularly.

On the Costa del Sol, the relationship between golf and housing is especially close. For example, in Marbella, the Nueva Andalucía area, known for its residential developments around several golf courses, has an average price of €5,683/m², higher than that of Marbella Centre (around €5,143/m²), according to the Fotocasa website.

The demand for homes in golf areas in Spain is driven primarily by medium-to-high-income foreign buyers, generally looking for a second vacation or retirement home. The typical sociodemographic profile is retired or pre-retired couples (50-70 years old) from Northern Europe, according to data from Taylor Wimpey Spain.