Inflation and the uncertainty caused by the invasion of Ukraine, together with the strike of several airlines, are some of the new challenges facing tourism in Lanzarote during the summer and autumn campaign, after overcoming the recent coronavirus crisis.
The president of the Lanzarote Business Confederation (CEL), Francisco Martínez, explained in an interview with Onda Cero - Radio Lanzarote that in principle he does not see "problems facing the autumn", although reservations are subject to last-minute cancellations. "The feeling is that we are going to escape even if the situation is bad," he adds.
"We will probably not reach pre-pandemic figures in autumn and winter, but that does not mean it is a disaster," says Martínez. "We have to be a little optimistic because if we look back a year or a year and a half, when we were all locked up at home, well, frankly, I think that the progression has been more than good," adds the president of the CEL.
Limitation of passenger entry to British airports
Regarding the current summer campaign, Francisco Martínez explained that the figures "were expected to be somewhat better than they are being" in July, but points out that "they have not been bad".
In addition to the Ryanair or EasyJet strikes in the seventh month of the year, also "more than 26,000 flight cancellations are expected for August" in Europe, says the president of the CEL, mainly in connections with the United Kingdom and Germany.
A situation that worsens even more with the limitation of passenger entry to Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, a measure that the airport has been forced to take as a result of the lack of personnel. "Normally, about 220,000 people pass through Heathrow every day and now they are limiting it to 100,000, that is, 120,000 people are being left out of the airport, they miss the plane and also the ticket," adds Martínez.
"With how sensitive the tourist issue is in Lanzarote, all this affects," says the president of the CEL. And it is important to remember that the United Kingdom is the main issuing country of travelers to the island, with 1.4 million tourists on average each year and a strong presence in the high summer season, so this situation could have a direct impact on the Lanzarote tourism sector.
Soaring prices
Another issue that Francisco Martínez has addressed during the interview has been the constant increase in flight prices due to inflation. "It's not worth coming," says the businessman, referring to the high amount that families have to pay when facing the price of the ticket without a resident discount.
"Prices have already doubled and tripled for September, airlines want to recover the money," explains the president of the CEL. "That does not happen in the hotel industry, where the average price increase has been 7% compared to costs of more than 20%. Airlines shoot to kill," he adds.
Regarding inflation, this does not only affect Spain, but is having a great impact on prices around the world, on food, fuel and even gas. However, in the specific case of the Canary Islands, the archipelago could benefit in terms of tourism.
"The rumor is already being promoted in Germany that if they want to save in winter due to the gas supply issue, they have been told to leave the country," says the businessman. "For that, the Canary Islands are perfect, since it may be cheaper to come to Lanzarote than to stay there in winter."
"We will have to wait a while to see if inflation moderates, Russia gets tired and we manage to improve the situation," concludes Francisco Martínez
