Posted on March 24, 2009 by Fiona Hilliard

Spaniards and tourists are flocking to the small British territory of Gibraltar in their droves, and it has nothing to do with the Barbary Apes. 

As the rest of the world shoulders the strain of the recession, today’s Guardian reports that this tiny, sun-drenched haven on Spain’s southern coast is making a miraculous recovery due to the weak pound and an economy growing at a rate that some are comparing to China.

Over the past couple of years, Gibraltar’s economy has grown at a rate of up to 12%, doubling its growth over a decade. Financial services, low taxes and a niche market in online gambling have transformed an economy that, up to 25 years ago, was over 60% dependent on the Ministry of Defence.

According to experts, Gibraltar’s economy is as solid as its famous rock.  The Spanish shoppers lining the aisles of the local branch of the Morrisons supermarket chain certainly aren’t doing it any harm either.  Articulated lorries are having to make daily drops to keep up with the demand for goods from low cost Britain.

Spaniards aren’t the only ones travelling across the border in search of bargains.  British ex-pats under pressure to keep up with rising prices and plunging pensions are travelling from far and wide to shop. Some are even driving for more than an hour from Malaga. So, if you’re looking for a cheap Easter escape, you could do a lot worse than packing up your bags and hitting the shops of Main Street with Gibraltar car hire!