Where would you rather be this winter? - 16.09.2005

Well, local tourism chiefs hope the answer will be ‘Tenerife’ however, despite the recent increase in the number of British visitors to the islands reflected in the official figures for July, the Canarian Government’s Department of Tourism is not convinced that the winter season will be a great success as far as tourists from the UK are concerned.

In an attempt to boost the number of visitors from the UK, which is considered to be one of the most important markets for the islands, the regional councillor for Tourism, Manuel Fajardo, recently announced plans to analyse the situation of years past with the aim of drawing up a more effective promotional campaign for Winter 2005-2006.

Fajardo explained that research has indicated that since the euro is strong at the moment, the prices in the Archipelago seem expensive to the British tourists and those who have visited the islands are now being attracted by other destinations where the dollar is used as currency.

Closer to home, visitors to and from the mainland should have no travel problems this winter as the south of Tenerife will soon have 54 extra flights linking the island with the mainland due to an historic agreement signed between the airline Spanair, the Cabildo of Tenerife, all the southern boroughs of the island between Arico and Santiago del Teide, the CEST Businessmen’s Association, Ashotel, Turismo de Tenerife and the Commission for the Promotion of the South of the island .

As a result of the agreement, the company will increase the number of seats available by 52% providing links to Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Jerez de la Frontera, Madrid, Malaga, Santiago de Compostela, Sevilla, Valencia and Vigo.

Company representatives announced that a single ticket would cost around 32 euros for residents of the island and it was also announced that an intense campaign to promote the south of the island, not only as a tourist destination but also as an important business link, will begin shortly.

Adeje councillor for Tourism, Miguel Angel Santos Cruz, classed the agreement with Spanair as being a positive move for the future of the area.

He added that the historic agreement would not only benefit the tourist sector, but would also meet the demands of the local residents who wish to establish links with the peninsular for personal or business visits.

In other news, the Canarian Government also plans to reinforce its presence in the Austrian and Swiss markets from September.

 

Representatives from the islands will promote specialised holidays at a tourism event organised by tour operator Billa Reisen in Vienna on 15 September and at a specially organised golf tournament at Waltersdorf. The event will be attended by approximately 150 Austrian tour operators which gives the Canarian Government a perfect opportunity to present the islands as the ideal location for sporting activities.

The Islands will also be presented as a top winter resort at a number of smaller events organised by tour operator Neckermann later this month.

British cites are also on the ‘hit list’ with Tourist Information Stands due to appear in five of England’s main cities; Leeds, Birmingham, Essex, Manchester and Glasgow during one weekend in September along with an impressive display at the macro tourism exhibition in Geneva at the end of the month.

Finally, the Archipelago will be the star of the show at the two major tourism events in Zurich and Geneva at the end of the month where promotional videos and other materials will be shown to professionals of the tourism sector.