INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT GUIDE GETS GOVT BACKING

Supported by a major media campaign to reach an estimated readership of 200,000 people “actively looking for property in their chosen destination”, the first edition of The International Retirement Directory is planned for February.

Providing information on over 60 countries, it will also offer advice on buying property overseas “and the importance of dealing with a company that is a member of a professional organization such as AIPP”, said Colin Miller of Millfield Publishing. “The Directory is the means to sell property and affiliated services to people who will actively be looking to buy,” he added.

According to data from the Institute for Public Policy Research, over 1.5 million Brits will have retired abroad by the year 2020 (increasing to nearly 2.2 million by 2030). According to SAGA, 23% of people over 50 are planning to retire abroad, one in eight ‘older’ people will be living abroad by 2025, and 19 million of all adults in the UK (41%) are currently over 50 years of age – representing 80% of the private wealth in the country. Currently, 75,000 pensions are paid in Spain and the British Consul estimates that there are already 500,000 ‘older’ people living there.Source: www.opp.org.uk

As part of the campaign to promote the new directory, Millfield Publishing has invited a variety of governments to endorse it by writing a letter to appear in their respective country sections. So far, the list of those who have agreed to support it include: Portugal, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Nevis, Bulgaria, Dubai, Costa Rica, Brazil, Malaysia, Cayman Islands, Philippines, Greece, Paraguay, Malta, Turkey, Belize, Bahrain, Honduras, Cyprus, Barbados, Spain, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago, and Tunisia. “We are waiting on confirmation from a further 30+,” claims Miller.

Millfield Publishing is working with PRo Global Media, the organisers of ‘The Retirement Show’ to develop an International Pavilion at their London Show in July 2009. “This will showcase international property developers and agents, plus governments wishing to promote their countries as retirement destinations – over 20 countries already have specific programmes to attract retirees,” said Miller.