While the coronavirus has hit the tourism sector hard in Lanzarote, this has not been the case in La Graciosa, where there are businesses that claim to have had an "almost outstanding" summer and that "there is still work to be done".
"Until now we have been close to 100% daily and the forecast for the rest of October is the same", they have told La Voz from the Evita Beach apartments.
This accommodation did not close its doors during the state of alarm because it had "two couples who were confined" but did not resume its tourist activity until the beginning of June and since then claims to have received a number of tourists "very similar to other years".
In addition, although these apartments point out that they live "day to day because you don't know what can happen", they claim to have "good prospects" for the coming months. "In November and December La Graciosa goes from very little influx, but this year we are noticing that Canary Island tourism continues to make reservations", they point out.
A summer "saved" thanks to Canary Island and mainland tourism
In fact, they believe that if La Graciosa "has been saved" until now, it is thanks to Canary Island tourism, which has been its main clientele. "90% of the clients we have had during the summer have been from the Canary Islands, and we have also received some from the mainland. There have been many people who did not know La Graciosa or the Canary Islands who had planned to go to international destinations and canceled it", they explained from the Evita Beach apartments, from where they pointed out that only in recent weeks they have received "a couple from Germany and some French". "Little European tourism, to be honest", they added.
"We, from July onwards, between the Canary Island and mainland public, have not stopped", has also confirmed from the bicycle rental and souvenir shop, Gracioserito.
In his case, its owner, Miguel Páez, points out that he did not decide to open the business until June 20 because he was "embarrassed", but says that since then they have had "a great activity, even more than last year". "Now, after the schools have started, it is true that it is a bit quieter, but there is still work to be done", he says.
More people "spending the day"
A similar testimony has been provided to La Voz from the Enriqueta Bar Restaurant, which reopened its doors "in mid-May". "We have been more or less well for how Lanzarote is", they have transferred from this establishment.
From the same they have pointed out that above all they have noticed more tourists who go "to spend the day. "Those who come to sleep, more or less like other years", they have specified.
