Businessmen describe as "inadmissible" the refusal of Costas to allow part of the filming of the Netflix series

The Lanzarote Tourist Federation, the Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of Entrepreneurs urge the Government of the Canary Islands to make the transferred powers effective "as soon as possible"

March 8 2021 (12:11 WET)
Image of Caletón Blanco, where Costas has denied that 'Welcome to Eden' is being filmed
Image of Caletón Blanco, where Costas has denied that 'Welcome to Eden' is being filmed

The Lanzarote Tourist Federation, the Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of Entrepreneurs have strongly criticized the refusal of Costas to grant the necessary permits for the filming of the Netflix series 'Welcome to Eden' to be completed in Lanzarote. Specifically, the production company has not obtained authorization to film in Caletón Blanco, so it will leave Lanzarote earlier than expected.

The island's businessmen have lamented "the situation in which these administrative decisions leave the economy and employment, severely affected by the pandemic and so in need of new impulses and projects, harming both companies linked to the film industry and many others in the service sector such as transport, catering or accommodation, in addition to losing income that the team would leave on the island during the months of filming, such as in restaurants and commerce, among others".

"Hindering the development of projects such as film projects is devastating for the diversification of the island and its economy. In addition, Lanzarote has a great natural landscape appeal and is considered by the audiovisual industry as a great natural set, having lost, with this filming, the possibility of exponentially multiplying the promotion of the island through film and television," they warn.

Claim to the Government of the Canary Islands

In the opinion of the island's business organizations, "cinema and audiovisual fiction behave like a large virtual brochure." "It induces tourism and invites people to visit places where filming has taken place," they point out, noting that, "according to the TCI Research study, more than 80 million travelers choose their destination based on films and series, a number that has multiplied by two in the last five years."

They also point out that the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism already set up an exclusive pavilion for "Screentourism", film tourism, at FITUR 2019.

"The lack of diligence of Costas is one more example of the archipelago's need to make the transferred powers in matters of Costas effective as soon as possible," they demand.

Therefore, the island's businessmen urge the Government of the Canary Islands to make the transferred powers in matters of Costas effective, "so that projects that represent an economic injection for companies and employment are not lost, especially at a time when the pandemic is severely affecting the economy of the archipelago."

Image from the filming of Welcome to Eden published by Netflix
The filming of the Netflix series will abandon Lanzarote due to "lack of permits" from Costas
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