One of the main consequences of Lanzarote entering alert level 3 has been the supposed “closure” of the island, with the restriction of entries and exits. However, beyond what is established in the decree that regulates the measures for each level, the truth is that in practice the limitation has focused on departures, not on entries, and the arrival of tourists continues to be allowed.
In fact, a cruise ship docked on the island this Sunday and many passengers disembarked and traveled to Arrecife and other parts of the island. Furthermore, although very few, flights continue to arrive not only from different parts of the peninsula, but also from abroad. Specifically, this Monday one arrived from Dublin, with tourists on board.
This reality clashes with the decree issued by the Canary Islands Government and also with the information that the regional Executive has officially disseminated. This same Saturday, after Gran Canaria moved to level 3, they reiterated in a statement that entries and exits to both that island and Lanzarote are restricted, “except for justified cause that occurs for any of the reasons contemplated in Royal Decree 926/2020”, by which the state of alarm was decreed again. And those reasons basically involve work, health or study reasons.
However, when consulted about this issue, the Health and Tourism ministries of the Canary Islands Government have indicated to La Voz that this restriction does not affect tourism. Even on the website of Turismo Lanzarote - a mixed promotion company but mostly owned by the Cabildo - it is indicated that family members and friends of residents can also enter the island.
“In the temporary period between January 15, 2021 and January 28, 2021, only travelers from international flights, travelers from the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands who are staying in an accommodation establishment, and all those whose reason for travel is to visit family and friends will be able to access the island,” they indicate on that website. And this, which covers practically all the assumptions of possible entries on the island, has also been confirmed to La Voz by those two ministries of the regional government.
In this way, the travel restriction would focus only on the residents themselves, who must justify their possible departures from the island. Specifically, the Canary Islands regulations detail the possible justified reasons for traveling, which are attendance at health centers, services and establishments; fulfillment of work, professional, business, institutional or legal obligations; attendance at universities, educational and educational centers; return to the place of habitual or family residence; assistance and care of the elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or especially vulnerable people; required or urgent actions before public, judicial or notarial bodies; renewals of permits and official documentation, as well as other unpostponable administrative procedures; carrying out unpostponable official exams or tests; due to force majeure or situation of need; and any other activity of a similar nature, duly accredited.
Precisely based on what is established in that decree, many residents of the island were surprised to see a cruise ship arrive on the island this Sunday. “That ship shouldn't be there and the cruise passengers or the crew shouldn't get off. What the regulations say is that the entry and exit of the island is prohibited unless justified and we already know what they are, medical reasons and little else,” said the Councilor for Tourism and Commerce of Arrecife, Armando Santana, this Monday on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, who even requested greater “monitoring” of these cases by the competent authority, given that the competition does not belong to the City Council.
Like him, other public officials on the island consulted by La Voz have referred to what is established in the decree, pointing out when asked about this issue that they understand that the closure also affects tourism. However, when transferring the same question to the Canary Islands Government, they affirm that this is not the case, despite the fact that they have not clarified where this exception is stated, which does not appear in the decree that came into force just over a week ago.
During the past Christmas, this same issue was already a source of controversy, when the island that was at alert level 3 was Tenerife. At that time, tourism was also excluded from the restriction on entries and exits from the island. However, the decree that was in force at that time was complemented ten days ago with another, toughening the measures established for each level.
In this regard, the Ministry of Health focuses on referring to the fact that the entry of tourists is regulated by the national decree that requires a negative PCR test to enter Spain, and therefore also in the Canary Islands. As for the Turismo Lanzarote website, it also emphasizes that potential tourists arriving on the island “must respect the night mobility limitations established on the island and that limits the circulation of people at night from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every day”.
Armando Santana has also referred to that compliance with the rules by some tourists, when talking about the cruise passengers who arrived in Arrecife this Sunday. “I saw several get off with bicycles, who by the way were not wearing masks,” he questioned.
