Green Tourism Comes to Spain - Eco-friendly Development is the Future

Spain has long been a leader in wind generation for electricity and now I see that they are heading down the solar path in a big way. Near where I have my business they have been building a huge solar farm and it is quite impressive and not the only one. Not to everyone’s tastes I grant you, as with the wind turbines, but you cannot argue with the sentiment behind it.

As a result of this forward thinking they are now well ahead of most other European countries and on course to meet their quota of sustainable energy by 2016. It doesn’t stop there either; they offer big subsidies and cash back deals on individuals and companies installing solar energy of there own. And now they are offering areas of land for ecological touristic development.

There is a lot of natural park, which you cannot build on, and even more rustic land which is really for farming but if you have enough you might get permission for a farm house. This has lead people to develop land illegally and there are many problematic areas all over Spain. Fortunately now the government are starting to set aside areas for ecological development and tourism. This is what is encouraging developments such as we are starting to see on the Costa de la Luz.

There are two such projects under way in the southern Cadiz area of the Costa de la Luz, or coast of light. Both are for ecological tourism and have a very green ethos with all the buildings being of wood sourced form well managed northern European forests. The concept is to offer timber lodges as holiday or retirement homes in forests near the coast. These areas could not normally be developed and with good reason, but a trip to the first of these developments would soon put any concerns to rest.

Set in a forest, as suggested by the name, and close to the beach, Atlantic Forest Park is the first of these new eco resorts. With wonderful timber lodges dispersed among the trees it is easy to see the appeal of such a place. The area is very well suited to the relaxed atmosphere created here too, with white hill top villages and acres of national park in all directions.

The same company responsible for Atlantic Forest Park has a second project underway and I hope that we will see more of these types of developments appear as attitudes change. I am sure that more and more people would like to spend their money on holidays and homes that have a zero impact on the environment and instead give back more than they take.

Atlantic Parks, the company behind the developments, is soon to launch a new home that will go even further that the current timber lodges in terms of eco credentials. Set to have solar panels, wind generation for electricity and a heat exchange system plus 100% ethically sourced and sustainable materials this seems set to create the bench mark for future such homes.

If you are considering a holiday home, no matter where it is, consider an eco-friendly timber lodge and in doing so consider the environment. Atlantic Parks think that people do care about the impact of their actions and how they spend their money. I hope that more people will consider this in their decision making process whether buying in the UK or abroad.