A Spanish region that features regularly on TV reality shows has bounced back from Covid with tourism now stronger than ever. The Costa Calida region of Murcia is a favourite location for shows such as A Place In The Sun, New Life In The Sun and various lifestyle programmes with many UK fans tuning in during lockdown for a sunshine fix while travel was outlawed.
Costa Cálida is in the southeast of Spain, on the coast of the Mediterranean with Valencia’s Costa Blanca to the north and the popular beaches of Almeria to the south. Combining relaxed Murcia City with its magnificent cathedral and multitude of tapas bars, with the Roman and Carthaginian sites in Cartagena, and the unspoilt beauty of the Parque Natural de Sierra Espuña, amongst many other highlights, it is ready for the influx of visitors old and new.
Now, following the lifting of travel restrictions to Spain, UK visitors are flocking to the area to sample the laidback lifestyle. Local tourism officials are even offering to continue cover some insurance policy costs until July 1 - the pledge introduced during the pandemic.
Airlines are also capitalising on the surge in popularity and the region is celebrating the confirmation of new routes for the spring/ summer 2022 season from the UK, as connectivity with main UK airports rebounds to pre-pandemic levels.
No-frills airline Ryanair has added a new London Luton flight to Murcia International starting on March 27 operating five days per week. The airline will continue to service existing direct routes from Bournemouth, Birmingham, Manchester, London Gatwick and Glasgow to Murcia as well as bringing back its pre-pandemic services to the region such as from East Midlands and London Stansted.
Low cost carrier easyJet will continue to operate its Bristol to Murcia service, meaning most big cities are withing a two-hour flight from Costa Calida. In 2021, the region welcomed more than 123,000 British tourists – up 36 per cent compared with the previous year when the pandemic first hit.
Juan Francisco Martínez, director at the Tourism Institute of the Region of Murcia confirmed that this season, visitors will continue to be covered by the region’s free travel insurance policy, including Covid-19, that was launched in 2021. She said: "We suffered a 72 per cent drop in UK tourist arrivals due to the Covid crisis in 2020, so the insurance initiative, along with other marketing promotions, has played a crucial role in rebuilding the tourism economy in Murcia.
"Travel has taken off but there is still uncertainty. Therefore, extending the free insurance policy is key to continue building confidence amongst our overseas visitors”.
Some of the best deals available with direct flights to Murcia airport :
LastMinute.Com has a 3-night stay at AluaSun Doblemar hotel, situated in La Manga del Mar Menor. A stay in a standard double bedroom on a half-board basis is priced from £371 per person based on two adults sharing, including return flights from London Gatwick with easyJet departing on April 15.
Love Holidays has a 5-night stay at the four-star beachfront Lodomar Spa & Talasoterapia hotel, located just a short distance away from Cartagena, in the beautiful coastal town of San Pedro Pinatar in the region of Murcia. A stay in a standard double bedroom on a B&B basis is priced from £177 per person based on two adults sharing, including return flights from Glasgow with Ryanair, departing April 15.
easyJet Holidays has a 3-night stay at the four-star Hotel Catalonia Conde de Floridablanca, located in Murcia’s city centre. The package is priced from £308 per person based on two adults sharing on a bed an breakfast basis, inclusive of return flights from Bristol with easyjet departing on April 14.
Expedia has a 4-night stay at the four-star Hotel Atrio del Mar in the coastal town of Los Alcázares, with a remarkable pool and a golf course nearby. The all-inclusive holiday is priced from £229 per person based on two adults sharing, including return flights from Luton Airport with Ryanair departing on March 26.
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