Ensuring that tourism continues to be a source of well-being for Lanzarote, the Canary Islands, and Spain was the central theme of the various interventions at the V Edition of the South Global Forum, held this Friday, November 15, in a packed Castle of San José.
The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, appreciated the return of the South Global Forum of Lanzarote after the interruption caused by the pandemic and highlighted its importance as “a space that allows in-depth and calm analysis of the challenges of tourism and avoids demagoguery and misinformation to make better decisions.”
Clavijo highlighted the ability of the various political, social, and business agents of the islands to agree: “On the islands, we fight a lot, but we are capable of sitting down and reaching agreements,” and focused his speech on the fact that with the good economic data that tourism will provide this year with "18 million tourists, more than 23 billion euros, and creating employment", in "the Canary Islands there is poverty, we continue to have problems of marginalization, and even a rejection of the activity is being installed." “We have to consider whether doing more of the same can guarantee another 50 years of well-being in the islands.”
The speakers agreed that Lanzarote's tourism needs less supply and higher prices, which leads to more investment and better salaries, among other advantages.
“This island must be preserved from excess supply, I believe that Lanzarote, along with Menorca, is the only island that has the capacity to do a different, more selective tourism,” said Antonio Catalán, president of AC Hoteles by Marriott.
But a price according to the value generated: "You shouldn't confuse value and price, if I am able to generate value because I am different, then I can raise prices,” specified Inmaculada Benito, director of the Tourism, Culture, and Sports department of the CEOE.
For his part, José Carlos Díez summarized the general feeling: “Lanzarote has too many tourists and lacks price,” he analyzed the economic situation of the main issuing markets to Lanzarote and highlighted how the island has already positioned itself in all the issues that generate added value for tourists and allow prices to be increased.
Something that the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, was able to confirm, who explained that Lanzarote is the island with the highest tourist spending in the entire archipelago. The president of the Chamber of Commerce of Lanzarote and La Graciosa also explained the business work carried out to achieve higher quality tourism on the island.
The forum has been sponsored by Turismo Lanzarote, the Art, Culture and Tourism Centers of Lanzarote, the Government of the Canary Islands and Cicar, with the collaboration of the Chamber of Commerce of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, also counting as a main partner with the media group Lanzarote Media.