Described as ‘the saviours’ of the property and tourist markets, the emerging Russian presence on Spain’s Mediterranean coast is a blessing. It is hoped our business community does not lose the opportunity.
Our economic mainstay is based on our sub-tropical climate. Like moths drawn to a flame, northern Europeans are drawn to our lifestyle. Russia, despite being the world’s largest country, has little to offer sun-starved Russians.
France has its Mediterranean, Germany its spa towns and idyllic southern states like Bavaria. Our European Russian friends have Mediterranean resorts. Let us capitalise on it.
Forget the media’s negative take on Russia. Russia’s economy, compared to that of the European Union, is booming. Spending by Russia’s emerging nouveau rich is unprecedented. Other nations already take advantage of the Klondike on their borders. Legislation in Poland, Estonia and Lithuania has been eased to meet the needs of the Russian influx.
The economies of the three Baltic States, Poland, and former Eastern European nations like the Czech Republic, are increasingly based on the Russian rouble. Shopping visas are more easily acquired. Border controls offer an easier and faster welcome to high spending Russians.
The Polish City of Gdansk, formerly Germany‘s Danzig, benefits to the tune of €20 million spending each month by Kaliningrad’s cross-border Russian consumers.
Spain has intense competition. It shares the Mediterranean with nearly twenty other nations. Half of them are hungry for tourists.
A Costa company recently contacted my Russian wife, Nadia. Prepared to invest €90,000 in their new health service related business they intend to target the Russian speaking community. Naturally, they wanted their marketing in the Russian language. Nadia’s translation gave the company just what they needed to succeed.
Their business acumen has to be applauded. Russian property buyers have overtaken the British, German and Scandinavian markets. Much the same can be said of tourism. To their credit, the Spanish have laid out the red carpet; will the Costa business community follow suit?
The arriving Russians are loaded and here to stay. The internet means they can run their Russian businesses from their Spanish villas.
The secretary of Provia (Association of Real Estate Developers Alicante) concedes the Russians are an important market. Altea’s prestigious Villa Gadea Hotel recently hosted a real estate event aimed at Russian buyers. Business community readers, especially those in the healthcare sector, should note the words of Antoni Mayor of the Benidorm Hotel Association. “We have a goldmine we have yet to exploit.”
If your business marketing language is not yet in the Russian language you are turning business away. Can you afford to do so?
(Note: Nadia can be contacted by emailing accessrussian@yahoo.co.uk)