On the other hand, the matchless attractions and appeal of such a province as Málaga, which was a pioneer in the tourism industry and is a symbol of quality throughout the world, have been what has led the Institute for the Elderly and Social Services (Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales - IMSERSO) to include the Costa del Sol in its well known vacations programme for the elderly since the very beginning of that public initiative. This has helped to reinforce this region’s image as a marvellous destination for anyone who thinks that age need not be an obstacle to his desire to experience new thrills, explore new places or enjoy the incalculable advantages that such a mature and established world-class destination as this puts within his reach. That is why so many come back and so many develop an attachment, and why so many are captivated by the magic of this land and its people, customs and charms.

It is no wonder, then, that a significant percentage of the tourist residences on the Costa del Sol at this time belong to outsiders who have decided to acquire a second home or even to establish a residence here and turn their retirement into a daily and continuous vacation. This is a dream come true for a representative community of retirees, whether European or Spanish, who have in the end decided to take up residence in Málaga after finding that they enjoy a quality of life in this province that would be hard to equal in other corners of the world.

The high demand for houses, apartments and villas by this segment of the market has in fact induced various development firms to wager a significant sum in the creation of exclusive “senior resorts” (residential complexes for people over 55 years of age) in this region. These are giving way to a system of unusual residential developments in which, as well as having homes, the residents enjoy specialised medical services, extremely complete sports and leisure activities and an endless list of benefits, all without even having to leave the complex in which their houses are located. Although this innovative real estate formula began to be particularly successful in localities close to the coastal strip, in recent years projects located in interior municipalities of the province have multiplied, to the point that from Benalmádena to Alhaurín de la Torre, from Marbella to Pizarra, or from Mijas to Vélez Málaga, Villanueva del Rosario and the city of Málaga these select resorts have become an essential part of the offer intended for senior citizen tourism, and with good reason. Some of these housing developments have full-time health care; restaurant, beauty and security service and a 24-hour concierge service; sports practice and facilities including swimming pools, tennis courts and bowling lanes; shopping centres; social clubs; shops; gymnasiums, spas and social service centres. A world of luxury within the reach of almost everyone, and the only requirement is to be prepared for a second youth beginning at the age of fifty.