Costa del Sol - News

The number of foreigners in Malaga has doubled in the past 5 years

noreply@blogger.com (Grupo Gavilán) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:55:00 +0000

Almost all municipalities in Malaga have increased their foreign population during the past five years in at least twice their numbers. Foreigners now represent more than a third of all residents in twelve municipalities.

The Costa del Sol in the province of Malaga has undergone a spectacular immigration, as shown by the latest figures from the municipal population corresponding to 2007, and published a few days ago by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics. Between 2002 and 2007, the number of immigrants has at least doubled in nearly all municipalities in the province of Malaga.

More foreigners have moved to the province in the last five years than during any other five-year period, except in cities that already had a high proportion of foreign population, such as Torremolinos, Marbella, Mijas or Torrox. In addition, almost half of all municipalities in the province have five times more foreigners than five years ago. One of the reasons for this sharp increase in foreign population are changes in the legal requirements that allow foreigners to come and live here legally.

According to Carmen Carvajal, a professor at the Faculty of Geography at the University of Malaga which conducted the study, there is no town today in the province of Malaga which doesn't have foreign residents.

The municipalities of the interior, such as Almáchar, Benalauría, El Borge, Júzcar, Parauta, Villanueva de Tapia and Pujerra, did not officially have any foreign resident in 2002, and now have dozens in each of them, with the exception of Pujerra, which has gain only one foreign resident since 2002. At the other extreme is the city of Malaga, which has 34481 foreigners, followed by Marbella, 29963, and Mijas, which has 24705 foreign residents.

The National Institute of Statistics report indicates that one out of every four foreigners in Malaga is British (56898), followed by Moroccans (21251), Argentinians, Germans and Italians.
With regard to foreigners who have come in the past five years, statistics show that more than half of them are Europeans, mainly from the European Union, followed by Moroccans and South Americans.

Sea Witch: Sailing in Benalmadena

noreply@blogger.com (Grupo Gavilán) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:42:00 +0000

A Blog for the Sailing Boat Sea Witch (Bruja del Mar).
http://seawitch-benalmadena.blogspot.com/

Sailing Trips near the Coast in Benalmádena aboard this classical two-mast ship, where you can enjoy a few hours or a whole day of pleasure cruising, sailing and swimming among Dolphins in clear waters, fishing or just relaxing on board drinking a beer.

Benalmádena Marina
Puerto Deportivo de Benalmádena
Malaga
http://maps.google.com/maps

Tel: 639 10 37 37

Video showing Dolphins swimming around the boat

Sea Witch: Sea Witch

Most Wanted Costa Criminals

noreply@blogger.com (Grupo Gavilán) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:30:00 +0000

The Costa del Sol is becoming once again a haven for British fugitives suspected of murder, armed robbery, drug smuggling and sexual offenses.

Crimestoppers has today issued the photographs and details of 10 men who are on the run from British justice.
Operation Captura is a joint project by Crimestoppers, SOCA and the Spanish authorities launched in October 2006.
Eight fugitives have been brought to justice from a total of twenty such appeals appearing on Crimestoppers' ‘Most Wanted' website since the launch. SOCA coordinates the appeals on behalf of British law enforcement and then processes the European Arrest Warrants to bring the fugitives back to the UK.

Five arrests have been made from the first batch of ten appeals issued in October 2006.
Dave Cording, Director of Operations, Crimestoppers, said:

“The success of Operation Captura speaks for itself. Once the photograph of the criminal is posted on our website they have nowhere to hide. We are delighted to be working with SOCA on this campaign which is halting some very serious criminal activity.
You can help expose the perpetrators behind this activity, in Spain and the UK, by calling us anonymously from Spain on 900 555 111. If you are calling from within the UK telephone 0800 555 111. Your call will not be traced or recorded so tell us what you know, not who you are. Our service has been helping to find criminals and solve crime for twenty years. It's a system that works for everyone except criminals.”

Bill Hughes, Director General of SOCA, added:

“British crooks who thought they could enjoy a ‘yachts and villas' lifestyle in Spain have received a nasty shock. Many of them are now experiencing a rather different lifestyle at Her Majesty's pleasure.

“SOCA has worked with Crimestoppers and the Spanish to bring these criminals to justice but we couldn't have done it without the help of the public. I'd like to thank all of the brave individuals who have provided vital information. Now we need your help again. Please study the ten new appeals closely and if you have any information at all please call Crimestoppers anonymously straight away. They are waiting for your call.”

Operation Captura identifies serious criminals wanted by UK law enforcement agencies for crimes committed in the UK. Crimestoppers and SOCA work closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff in Madrid, British and Spanish law enforcement. The campaign highlights appeals for information on criminals who have European arrest warrants issued for them for crimes such as drug trafficking, murder and currency counterfeiting. Information given to Crimestoppers can help locate these criminals so that arrests can be carried out.
Police hope ex-pats or holidaymakers might recognise the wanted men in bars, golf clubs or supermarkets.

The ten new appeals for information include offenses ranging from murder to major drug trafficking operations.
Some of the runaways are thought to be involved in more criminality in Spain, where drug trafficking, particularly cannabis, is huge business.

The suspects being hunted are:

James Walter TOMKINS

Aged 58 (place of birth: London) – Metropolitan Police Service

Offences: It is alleged that Tomkins murdered Rocky DAWSON in Hornchurch, Essex on 2 May 2006. He is also wanted for the possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

There is a £20,000 reward for information leading to Tomkins' arrest.

Description: M1.73 tall, medium to stocky build, scar close to left eye, scar on brow, scar on right side of neck, sometimes wears a close cut beard. Has links to Marbella, Fuengirola, Porto Banus and Benidorm.

Aliases and nicknames: Raymond John FARMER, O'FLYNN, “Jimbles”

David Alfred ANDREWS

Aged 66 (place of birth: Radlett, Herts - HMRC)

Offences: Accused of being the principal figure of a drug-trafficking organisation that between 2000 and 2003 conspired to import commercial quantities of cocaine into the UK from South America through the use of corrupt Heathrow Airport employees.

Description: 5'11” tall, grey collar length hair, large build, clean shaven.

Jason Richard GULLIFORD

Aged 36 (place of birth: Lincoln – Nottinghamshire Police)

Offences: On 30 April 2003 it is alleged that Gulliford stabbed Neil James Dodd with a screwdriver over a suspected drugs debt – wounding with intent contrary to Section 18 Offenses Against the Person Act 1861 – life imprisonment.

Aliases and nicknames: John ANDREWS; Jason Culver PRICE

Description: 6' x 3” tall (m: 191), heavy build, dark brown hair, tattoo on right arm of a black panther, tattoo on left shoulder of a black panther

Noel Francis CUNNINGHAM

Aged 46 (place of birth: London) Metropolitan Police

Offences: Conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to steal, having an offensive weapon, handling stolen goods, escape, wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm, wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, possessing firearm with intent.

Description: M1.78 tall, white European appearance, blue eyes

Daniel Paul JOHNSTON

Aged 27 (place of birth: Burton on Trent) – Derbyshire Constabulary

Offences: Between September 2004 and January 2006 Johnston is wanted for carrying two robberies, one attempted robbery and one theft in licensed stores in Derbyshire, usually armed with a knife.

Description: White male, M175 tall, medium build, blue eyes, short mousey hair, tattoo on left arm of a Celtic band, tattoo on left arm of a tribal band, tattoo of letters ‘KAINE' in Celtic writing on abdomen. Johnston is believed to have links in the Malaga region.

Allan James FOSTER

Aged 31 (place of birth: South Shields)- Northumbria Police

Offences: It is alleged that Foster murdered David “Noddy” Rice in Marsden Bay Car Park, South Shields on 24 May 2006. Foster is also wanted for two offences of conspiring to supply controlled drugs and also for the theft of a diamond ring.

Description: White European male of mixed race, 5' x 8” tall, slim build, brown eyes, short black hair, no distinctive marks known. Has links to Canary Islands and Majorca.

Scott COLEMAN

Aged 33 (place of birth: Liverpool) Grampian Police

Offences: In 2003 in Aberdeen, Coleman was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply 2.87 kg of heroin.

Description: 6' x 2” tall, medium build, short brown hair, blue eyes, tattoo of bulldog tattooed on centre of back, Liverpool FC crest tattooed on right leg, lips tattooed on buttocks. Has links to Benidorm.

Keith Brian BURKE

Aged 47 (place of birth: Halifax) South Yorkshire Police

Offences: Burke was involved in a violent assault that took place in the toilets of “The Top Club” bar in Edlington, Doncaster on 8 July 2001. He was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for affray.

Description: M173 tall, blue eyes, bald head, dark brown goatee beard, tattoo on right neck of a devil, tattoo on left side of neck of a swallow.

Nicknames: Tattooed Keith

John BARTON

Aged 52 (place of birth: Mansfield) - HMRC

Offences: Barton was sentences to 20 years imprisonment in 2003 after being convicted, in his absence, in relation to an offence of conspiring to import a commercial amount of heroin into the UK between 1999 and 2000.

Description: White male, 5'8” tall, medium build, receding dyed brown hair, natural grey colour, Midlands accent

John Cearney BARKER

Aged 50 (place of birth: Irvine, Ayrshire) - Strathclyde Police

Offences: Barker is wanted under two European Arrest Warrants for trafficking in cocaine and amphetamine to the value of over £110,000 in 1998 and 1999 within Scotland.

Description: 5'11” tall, stocky build, fair hair, blue eyes with a squint to the right eye. Has links with Tenerife.

Aliases and nicknames: John Cairney BARKER; John Clearney BARKER, “Jock”

After Amy Fitzpatrick, the 15 year old Irish girl from Mijas, vanished on 1st January, the Guardia Civil has pointed out that there are known criminals wanted for sexual offenses living in the Costa del Sol and that they are being covered up by circles of their fiends.
However, Chief Inspector Alfredo Marijuan, of Malaga police, commented:

"British people like to help the police.
But it's difficult to spot these men because they change their identity and they often have support and protection from their friends. They rarely move outside their own group."

But it has worked in the past.
When Crimestoppers published the pictures of the first 10 suspects, the following 5 were arrested within a year:

James HURLEY – convicted killer of a police-man who escaped custody in 1994. He was circulated in the crimestoppers release in Spain and was eventually arrested last year in The Netherlands for drug offences. (Herts – Metropolitan Police Service)

Ian WHITE – tobacco smuggler who masterminded a £6million VAT scam, arrested in Spain. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment in his absence on the 11th March 2004. He was also ordered to pay confiscation in the sum of £6,151,841.19 or serve ten years imprisonment in default. He was returned to the UK on the 20th September 2007 and appeared before Maidstone Crown Court on the 21st September 2007. From there he was sent to prison to start serving his sentence. (Essex - HMRC)

Anthony SIMMONDS – wanted for importing large quantities of cannabis from Spain and cheating VAT of £4million. Arrested in Spain in December 2006. He was returned to the UK 3 Jan 2007. He was produced at Maidstone Crown Court on 4 Jan 2007 and his sentence of 3 years imprisonment was confirmed. He was given a 3 month imprisonment in respect of the absconding, which is to be served consecutively. He was sent to prison to start serving his sentence. (Birmingham - HMRC)

Clifford HOBBS – escaped in custody on his way to court in London where he was to stand trial for the theft of £1.25million from a security van. Arrested in Spain and returned to the UK in August 2007. Trial commenced.

Dante LATRECHE – wanted for credit card fraud. Arrested in UK in 2007. Received suspended prison sentence. (Luton – Metropolitan Police Service)

John DOWDALL - wanted for importing large quantities of cannabis from Spain in 2003. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment in his absence on the 17th May 2005. Arrested in Spain. He was returned to the UK on 27th September 2007. He then appeared before Canterbury Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to a Bail Act Offence. He was sentenced to a further four months imprisonment, which is to run consecutively to the sentence of five years imprisonment. (Surrey - HMRC)

Markcus JAMAL – wanted for conspiracy for murder of Nageeb El Hakem in 2005. Arrested in Spain. Returned to the UK in January 2007. Trial currently underway at Sheffield Crown Court. NB Not for publication or broadcast – no reporting restrictions in place. (Sheffield – South Yorkshire Police).

John SETON – wanted for the murder of Jon Bartlett in March 2006. Arrested in The Netherlands. Returned to the UK in May 2007. Trial due in Spring 2008. (Kent – Metropolitan Police Service).

Calls to the Spanish 900 555 111 telephone number will be answered in the UK by Crimestoppers call handlers and a translation service will be available on request.

More Info:
http://www.crime-stoppers.org.uk

13.5 million visitors to Malaga in 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Grupo Gavilán) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:11:00 +0000

Malaga has continued to be a most popular spot last year, with 13.5 million people flying into the province's airport.
Figures released by the Spanish Airports Authority show that the number of people who arrived in Malaga in 2007 was 3,9 per cent up on the previous year.

The UK continued to be the largest source market for the Costa del Sol destination, with 2.5 million arrivals last year, up by 0,3 per cent on 2006.
While there were more visitors from the UK than any other country, it was France, Ireland and Germany to see the largest increases in numbers, of 15,6, 6,8 and 5,7 per cent respectively.
The rise in German visitors puts the country in third place in overall visitor numbers, behind passengers from other airports operated by the Spanish Airports Authority.
Across the rest of Europe, fewer Swiss citizens visited Malaga in 2007, while the number of travellers coming from Denmark increased by a quarter.

The popularity of holiday destinations such as Malaga continued to prove an important factor in the travel market last year as Spain welcomed 59.7 million visitors, new figures reveal.
This was an increase of 2.2 per cent on the number of people who visited the world's second most popular destination in 2006, according to Exceltur, Spain's main tourism trade body.

A number of factors are thought to have contributed to the growth, including the rising popularity of city breaks and the ongoing growth of low-cost airlines.
According to Jose Luis Zoreda, executive vice-president of Exceltur, Spain is set to enjoy further success this year: "For 2008, we expect 60.7 million tourists in Spain".

The sun and beach segment, of which destinations such as Malaga are a vital part, was among the many sectors to grow last year, with an increase of 0,7 per cent in visitor numbers.

“Queen Victoria” comes to Málaga

noreply@blogger.com (Grupo Gavilán) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:03:00 +0000

On 26 December, the “Queen Victoria” cruise liner will be stopping at the Port of Málaga, as part of its maiden voyage.

"Queen Victoria" can carry up to 2,014 passengers plus 1,001 crew members.

Nothing in the cruise can be compared to the renowned Queens Grill and Princess Grill, the pair of exclusive dining rooms and their corresponding Grill-category accommodations.

The suites aboard “Queen Victoria” feature butler service with butlers who have been trained to the exacting standards of the International Guild of Professional Butlers. These ever-efficient butlers stand ready to assist with unpacking and packing (using tissue paper between folds to ensure a flawless finish), uncork the requisite bottle of French Champagne on departure and serve en-suite canapés every evening, among their myriad duties.

The stateroom suites aboard Queen Victoria range in size feature spacious private balconies, beautifully decorated living areas, two beds that can convert to a Queen bed, and a bath with shower.

A combination of art deco and classic design distinguishes the exclusive 132-seat Princess Grill and 142-seat Queens Grill restaurants. The art collection aboard the cruise liner (over 500 pieces) has been valued at 1,405,643 euros. It can be found in all common rooms or decks.

The common rooms are characterised by imposing height and big spaces, these being key features when it came to designing the 13 decks for “Queen Victoria”. Elegant areas in the classical English style; intimate corners for health or leisure, like the big spa resort, the gym, the casino, and the 13 bars and cafeterias, alongside the Lido buffet restaurant and other private eating venues.

However, in the grand Cunard tradition and just as in her preceding ocean liners “Queen Elizabeth 2” and “Queen Mary 2,” the most impressive room aboard “Queen Victoria” is the Grand Lobby through which passengers access the ship. Other facilities worth visiting are the Royal Court Theatre, the Cunardia Museum, the library, and the Winter Garden.


Ship Exteriors	Accommodation	Dining Options


Entertainment	Public Rooms

More Info:

queenvictoria.cunard.co.uk

Delta Airlines to fly from New York to Malaga

noreply@blogger.com (Grupo Gavilán) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:58:00 +0000

Delta Air Lines, is planning to start operating a non-stop flight from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York to Malaga Airport starting as soon as June 5, 2008.

"The four times weekly flight will be the only non-stop service to New York from Malaga operated by a US carrier, and will offer passengers connections to around 40 business and leisure destinations throughout the United States including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, Tampa and Dallas," said the airline's website.

According to the statement, the new Malaga service is one of a number of new transatlantic routes not served by any other major US airline from JFK planned for 2008, including Amman, Cairo, Edinburgh, Lagos, Dakar, Cape Town (via Dakar) and Nairobi (via Dakar).

Initially the service will run three times a week, and if things go according to plans, the service will be daily from 2009, with the route being consolidated over the next three years.

The price for a one-way ticket from New York to Malaga is estimated at $599.

Delta's expanded service from JFK will be operated with Boeing 757s and 767s flying across the Atlantic.

Delta Air Lines boasts operating services to more destinations than any global airline. The airline currently offers flights to 481 destinations in 105 countries.
Since 2005, Delta has added more international capacity than all other major U.S. airlines combined and is a leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic markets.

Málaga to host the 3rd International Cultural Tourism Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Grupo Gavilán) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:59:00 +0000

From 21 to 24 September, the Málaga Exhibition and Conference Hall will be the seat of the 3rd International Cultural Tourism Fair.

This year, the trade show’s programme features a wide range of parallel activities to discuss and analyze this segment, which is gaining importance in the travel industry by the day.

Through its International Marketing Department, the Costa del Sol Tourist Board will be present at the Turismo Andaluz stand, and it will attend the workshop with international tour operators specialising in cultural tourism that have been invited by Turespaña.

As in previous editions, the Tourist Board was part of the Organising Committee, in charge of the special programme for international media and tour operators, who will have the chance to visit Málaga and get to know the province in depth. At the weekend, after the rofessional meetings, international visitors can take advantage of post tours round Andalusia.

At the welcome dinner, which is traditionally held on the day the Fair is officially inaugurated and attended by every institution present, “La Málaga de Picasso” (“Picasso’s Málaga”) will be introduced to all tour operators, media representatives, local authorities and travel professionals from the province.

A special section will be dedicated to cultural tourism meetings, organised by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and the Spanish Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism (AECIT). This section includes two lectures and a round table with AECIT members, university scholars and travel professionals discussing “Cultural Tourism in Spain: New Products, New Markets”.

In addition, the Network for Heritage, Tourism and Sustainable Development (IBERTUR), comprised of heritage management professionals, has organised a meeting for the exchange of knowledge and experience and for technical cooperation, leading to the statement of common work guidelines.

One of IBERTUR’s initiatives, the Network for Archaeological Tourism (ARQUEOTUR), will be present at the fair, publicising the archaeological heritage among professional visitors and the general public.

Parallel activities include meetings of AECIT’s Board and the European Academy of Tourism, the presentation of the “Revista Andaluza de Patrimonio Histórico” special issue on cultural routes, and the introduction of European Academy of Tourism by its President, Claude Origet.

The fair will have a special section for especially charming, cultural and boutique hotels, showing the facilities that stand out for their peculiar characteristics and commercialising these products with the attending public.

Travel agencies will also have a special area to sell their cultural holiday packages to those who would like to merge relax with learning. Indeed, both the hotels and the travel agencies present at the fair will present visitors buying their trips or making reservations with special offers.

International stands include those of Mexico, China and the Dominican Republic.
As for Spanish routes, there will be representatives of Grupo de Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad (World Heritage Cities), Red de Juderías – Caminos de Sefarad (Network of Jewish Quarters in Spanish Cities), Ruta Vía de la Plata (Spanish Silver Route), Ruta Bética Romana (Route of Roman Andalusia), and Fundación Camino de la Lengua Castellana (Foundation for the Route of the Spanish Language), among others.

Source:
Costa del Sol Tourist Board

Nazi apologist and Holocaust denier arrested in Benalmádena

noreply@blogger.com (Gefio Norse) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:00:00 +0000

Spanish police arrested in Benalmádena the alleged Nazi apologist and Holocaust denier Gerd Honsik, 15 years after he fled his homeland to evade a prison sentence.
The seizure was made after a European-wide arrest warrant was issued by judge Baltasar Garzón and was carried out by the National Police and the organised crime unit on the Costa del Sol.

65-years-old Honsik was arrested last Thursday at 14.20 at his Benalmádena home.
He is wanted for actions he carried out in his native Austria between 1986 and 1989 when he distributed publications in Vienna that denied the Jewish holocaust.

This printed material said that groups of Jews were not exterminated by the Third Reich at concentrations camps. He expressed his views in his book ‘Absolution of Hitler’ and in the magazine ‘Halt’. In them he denied that the gas chambers existed and said the chimeys of the supposed gas chambers at Auschwitz where actually on the roof of a single storey house.
According to the magazine, the US was at war for one reason only: the desire for economic growth (“the undemocratic American right to amass wealth,”) for which the Jews were responsible:
“Only a few families have the power to print green paper to the value of one cent… and to label it ‘100 dollars’ and then to place this deadwood at the state’s disposal at interest.”

Honsik was found guilty in 1992 by a court in Vienna and sentenced to 18 months in prison and fled to Spain to escape from Austrian Justice.
“The gas chambers existed only to delouse the Jews, because there was an epidemic in Germany,” said Gerd Honsik during his trial.
Denying the Holocaust in Austria, which provided a significant number of top Nazi leaders including Hitler, is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The Spanish High Court had previously dismissed a petition from Honsik that he should be considered a political refugee in Spain, a ruling that was later ratified by the country’s Supreme Court.

Many other Nazi sympathisers have also lived with total impunity for years on the Costa del Sol in the past.

Hotel managers at the Costa del Sol satisfied with this year's figures

noreply@blogger.com (Grupo Gavilán) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 10:48:00 +0000

Hotel managers at the Costa del Sol are satisfied with the 2007 Summer Season in spite of the reduction of the average time spent by tourists.

The president of the Spanish Hotel's Association in the Costa del Sol (AEHCOS), Salvador Vilches, said that the summer “has gone well” and that it is expected that August will end with an average occupation superior to 88 percent.

The reduction of the average stay time of tourists at the Costa del Sol has been compensated with a greater number of clients, who are choosing to spend more money in activities and restaurants outside the hotels.

Most of the tourists lodged in July and August in hotels at the Costa del Sol have been Spanish nationals from Andalucia, Madrid, Catalonia and Extremadura.

Vilches trusted that September will also be a good month for this tourist zone, since every year is becoming “a more attractive” month, and remembered that last year's occupation during September went over 80 percent.

As far as the competition, he said that all the destinies are competing with the Costa del Sol “because they are cheaper”. Among them, he mentioned Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Croatia or Morocco.

To face this competitors, “the challenge is to provide a good service, instead of trying to offer cheaper prices”, assured the president of AEHCOS.

He also stressed the importance of promotional campaigns in traditional foreign markets, such as the British and German, as well as the Nordic, Italian and other from emergent countries like Rumania, Bulgaria or Poland.