The restrictions imposed by the Canary Islands Government for Easter, when it will not be possible to travel between islands unless a negative Covid test is presented, have caused a "haemorrhage" of reservation cancellations in La Graciosa, as confirmed by some accommodations on the eighth island.
"We are practically around 40 or 45% of cancellations because, of course, family members who travel five or six people, getting a PCR each means a significant expense", have transferred from the Evita Beach apartments, from where they have had cancellations "from Gran Canaria and Tenerife".
This company has 15 apartments in La Graciosa and expected to be "practically full" during Easter. However, now it only has seven reservations and does not rule out that these may also fall. And, part of them are from Lanzarote, who are also required to have a PCR to go to La Graciosa.
"It is the last straw, because there were also several reservations from Lanzarote. There were people who, not being able to travel to Gran Canaria or Tenerife, had changed it for La Graciosa", they pointed out from these apartments, from where they also believe that there has been "a lot of confusion" with the measures.
Likewise, this accommodation criticizes that Lanzarote and La Graciosa are not treated as "a territorial unit", since residents in La Graciosa are allowed to travel without PCR to Lanzarote, but not the other way around. "For them, the island is independent when they want. Because if we are an independent island, why are we at alert level 2 if we have zero cases? And why were we at level 4 when Lanzarote was?", they ask themselves.
"And now those from La Graciosa can go to Lanzarote and walk all over Lanzarote and nothing happens and those from Lanzarote cannot come to La Graciosa and return? If those from Lanzarote have to get a PCR to take a simple open ferry for 20 minutes, I imagine that in a while the phone will start burning with cancellations because, I don't know, that a person from Teguise, who is even from the same municipality as La Graciosa, has to pay for a PCR...", they add from Evita Beach.
In addition, although in their case they claim that they were "practically full" from June 8 to the beginning of November, they point out that they are already "having a hard time". "And because of the feeling in La Graciosa, many restaurant businesses that are operating, if they do not receive a little economic injection this Easter, they will not reach the summer", they warn.
"It is possible that everything will be cancelled"
For its part, in the El Sombrerito apartments they had five reservations for Easter and "two have already been cancelled".
"Here we are free of Covid and we are fine but, of course, if they have to come to La Graciosa and pay for the trip to the airport, the plane and now the PCR, imagine the cost. So, they have decided to cancel", said its owner, José María Cabrera.
This man hoped that "Easter would alleviate the situation" since, in his case, he also affirms that although last summer they had reservations, "it was not so good either". And now he believes that "it is possible that everything will be cancelled" for Easter.
Lanzarote residents with second homes in La Graciosa
The restrictions of the Canary Islands Government not only affect those Lanzarote residents who want to go on vacation to La Graciosa, but also those who have a second home there, which, according to the councilor of the Teguise City Council, Eugenio Robayna, on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, are "many".
In this regard, Robayna has said that he does not understand that "the Government looks at the island as just another town in Teguise for what the investments are" but now, in the health issue, it does so "as an island". "I really don't understand it. How is it possible that I live in Arrecife or Teguise, that there are many neighbors who have their second home in La Graciosa and that they cannot go this Easter? Not to have parties or family gatherings, but to go to their home", criticized the mayor.
