I wonder how many people were put off by the `credit crunch` and didn`t book foreign holidays, fearing they couldn`t afford it or would not be in a job long enough to pay for it? Many people must have been in this position?
Even with the exchange rate not doing us any favours, it wasn`t going to stop Heather and I revisiting our favourite place. The way I look at it, is that I either spend less while I`m there, or I take more money with us. The cost of getting to Arillas wasn`t prohibitive.
As for people closing before the season ends, I think that their costs should have allowed for the real quiet times- you can`t have the good times throughout the whole season.
We all know what Arillas offers, and it is this that draws us back year after year, but it might not be enough for others to make them want to return as often as we do. Some may only visit once and decide there`s not enough to make them want to return.
I think that Arillas has a hardcore of visitor numbers which does not increase greatly each year and with increased costs year on year, it may not be possible for some to continue trading. More Arillas Adicts need to be found in greater numbers for our village to prosper and continue. This needs to happen but with increased commercialism comes greater responsibility to ensure Arillas keeps hold of it`s roots and values which draw us all there. Not an easy task.
For some, the credit crunch has been used as an excuse for scathing cutbacks- the euro is just another casualty.
May Arillas ` live long and prosper`. ( Who said that???)
Paul D