Fitch the global market analysts has said “The economy of Cape Verde continued to enjoy robust growth in 2005 and 2006. Receipts from its flourishing tourism industry increased sharply and investments in infrastructure also grew rapidly.”

According to Fitch, the country encourages confidence due to political stability with no ethnic or religious tensions, a warm sub-tropical climate to attract tourists and a currency that is pegged to the euro, as the main reasons for confidence and attracting foreign capital.

Tourism is coming steadily to the 10 islands, brought by new direct flights from the UK which take five and a half hours. Restaurants, bars and nightclubs are opening – and the average temperature of 25deg C (77deg F) will encourage people to come back for years to come. The opportunities for water sports enthusiasts are clear, with direct access to the rolling waves of the Atlantic.

Sal is one of the smaller islands in the group but retains its importance by having one of the two international airports; it is also by far the most developed for tourism and property development. It is here that investors are buying their properties off-plan.

But Cape Verde is not just for those investors looking for a property they will never visit. It will soon become a destination for mainstream tourism, which should lead to a boom in buy-to-lets.