Concerned tourism bosses in Spain are winning the battle for European holidaymakers, with an impressive 5 per cent rise in visitor numbers for 2007 so far. The country welcomed over ten million holiday makers in January, February and March - normally viewed as off peak months.

Ever since the 1960's, when overseas travel became available to the masses, Spain and her islands have consistently been the favourite destination for Britons, Germans, Swedes and other Europeans. Even when longer haul destinations in Europe like Cyprus, Malta and Greece became possible, and later holidays in Florida and even more recently Australia became economically viable for more people, Spain has maintained her popularity.

Tennis pro Roger Federer awed crowds at this year's Wimbledon to win his fifth men's finals, casting a ray of sunshine into a stadium nestled beneath gray and cloudy skies. The 2007 Championship matches saw invigorating and exciting plays made by names who have become household words across the globe, among them Rafael Nadal, his rival for the win.

Worried tourism bosses in Spain are winning the battle for European holidaymakers, with an impressive 5 per cent rise in visitor numbers for the first quarter of this year. The country welcomed over ten million holiday makers in January, February and March - normally viewed as off peak months.

So many British people have bought a property in regions of Spain that it is now it is quite possible to live there quite comfortably without having to learn the language.

Buying a property on the Spanish island of Majorca has been popular for several decades now, with many Europeans who have holidayed on the Spanish island deciding to buy a second home for holidays, a business, or for retirement.

Despite facing fresh challenges every year from new and old competitors to take away market share, Spain increased her number of visitors in the first couple of months of 2007 for what could be a good year for a country that has been the favourite destination for Europeans for nearly fifty years.

British people with a holiday home in Spain could soon be considering selling their apartment or villa as interest rates in both Spain and UK rise - making the possibility of a fall in Spanish property prices more likely.