The Lanzarote Tourism Federation has lost its "patience" and has harshly criticized the central government and the Canary Islands government, after not seeing the expectations that had been placed on the tourism meeting held this Monday in Brussels fulfilled, in which the Minister of Tourism, Reyes Maroto, participated. "It finally culminated in a Declaration led by Spain, which only obtained the support of nine member countries: Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta and Portugal, without the adhesion of the main issuing countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland or the Scandinavian countries," warns the Lanzarote business association.
"The situation derived from this meeting maintains the uncertainty of the tourism sector and cools the options of destinations such as the Canary Islands to emerge from the crisis, beyond the efforts to keep the virus outbreaks that originate it low," he questions in a statement, in which he recalls that the regional Executive announced weeks ago the launch of safe corridors, setting this Monday's meeting as a key day. "To date, the tourism sector distrusts that the Central and Autonomous governments have made any progress in implementing the realization of tests at origin and destination and maintaining the islands as a "Safe Destination." A vital measure to guarantee tourism and economic survival in the Canary Islands," emphasizes the Federation, which includes Asolan among other associations.
"Currently there is an absolute distrust in the tourism sector of the State's capacity and its management in the European Union. Likewise, the progress of the meetings with the issuing countries is also unknown: the United Kingdom, Germany, the Scandinavian countries or Ireland, with whom they have been talking for several weeks to establish safe corridors with the Canary Islands," he adds.
"We are tired of meetings, of words that fall on deaf ears, we want concrete and effective actions now. How is it possible that Madeira, Switzerland, Milan, Cyprus, Frankfurt, have been able to implement control measures, conduct tests on arrival or require passengers to present a "Covid-19 negative" test certificate, the last one being the island of Sardinia, just a few days ago, and the Canary Islands has not been able to implement this control measure, which the sector has unanimously demanded since before the opening of Tourism in June?" ask the Lanzarote businessmen.
"We have seen how the summer season vanished, how many companies opened their doors with the hope of reviving the summer season and have ended up putting the "closed" sign back on the doors of their establishments. We have placed our hope in the winter campaign and, much to our regret, we are also seeing how if we do not act now, we will have to consider it lost as well," they warn.
In addition, they recall that one of the major tour operators in the United Kingdom plans to restart its programming on October 17, but "still does not know the specifics of the Safe Corridor protocol for the Canary Islands," which "includes the logistics for conducting tests on passengers arriving on the islands."
"This Sunday, September 27, coinciding with World Tourism Day, Lanzarote arrived with a green light for health, so now more than ever Lanzarote must shield itself as a safe destination, so the implementation of tests at origin, or the arrival of passengers, as a measure of control and early detection of possible cases of coronavirus, is urgent, as otherwise the situation reached could be reversed, and with it lose the winter tourist season, which would be a blow to the island's economy and employment," they warn.
"We have been cautious, developing infinite patience, because we understood that this crisis has befallen us all without being prepared, but we have reached a critical situation that requires making decisions and acting now, we are in the countdown to the winter tourist season," insists the business association. "We need the Government of the Canary Islands to act, and to act with all the responsibility expected of a government that represents one of the main tourist destinations in Europe and the main economic engine of the archipelago. A Community with the greatest impact of the tourism sector on its GDP, 35% and on employment 40%, and on islands like Lanzarote, it reaches up to 80% of GDP," he recalls.
Finally, the businessmen of the tourism sector warn "that international safe corridors will be of no use if the same test controls are not established for all national passengers entering and leaving the islands, that is: peninsular and Canary residents."
