The new CEO of the Cabildo's Art, Culture and Tourism Centers, Juan Félix Eugenio, has confirmed that the Atlantic Museum is "totally loss-making". "It has been in this sense for two or three years and we will have to rethink this exploitation or the use of this center," he said.
Although he has stated that he is still "gathering information" in this regard, Juan Félix Eugenio has pointed out that this year alone, from January to May, there were already losses "of 44,809 euros". "The influx is low, with barely 20 daily users, and there are rental costs for the premises, the Demarcation issue and Emergencies and so on, so it is clearly loss-making," he said.
Specifically, according to the latest influx data published by the Cabildo's Data Center, from January to May 2019, 2,824 people visited the underwater museum, which is an average of 18.8 visitors per day. In addition, compared to the same period last year, there was a 10.7% drop in the number of visitors, as 3,165 people visited the Atlantic Museum then.
Thus, the new CEO of the Tourist Centers believes that "we should rethink this exploitation or the use of this center". He believes that its maintenance "could jeopardize the sustainability of the CACT if measures are not taken". "We would have to rethink both the issue of costs and tariffs and see the maintenance of this center, in addition to the large investment it has involved," he pointed out.
The Islote de la Fermina project, without a feasibility study
On the other hand, Juan Félix Eugenio has revealed that projects such as the one initiated under the CC mandate to recover the Islote de la Fermina or the Visitor Center of the Farmer's Monument lack feasibility studies. "There are no such financial viability studies and that worries us with regard to the new centers that have been made dependent on the CACT when they should have been done through another formula," he said.
Thus, with respect to the Islote de la Fermina project, where the works have also had to be "extended for two months", the new Councillor of the Tourist Centers has explained that the exploitation project and an economic and financial viability study have been requested. "Because we don't know what staff it involves, the operating costs and the tariffs to be applied. We don't know and I think that is fundamental for it to become a reality", he specified.
In addition, although he pointed out that the new government group has found the investment in the Islote de la Fermina "practically completed except for some details such as the furniture", he also stated that the corresponding agreement between the Cabildo, the Arrecife City Council and the EPEL is still "pending" to be signed.
"Not enough urgency has been worked with that should have been done"
The new Councillor of the Tourist Centers has also pointed out that "actions or cultural activities" will have to be "carried out or promoted" in the Castillo de San José, which is a tourist center "of those that give more losses". "And also in the Monument, where yesterday we had a meeting with the artisans, that there is an approach of a craft center that is already open and an interpretation center of agriculture and farming that must be given viability", he added.
Likewise, Juan Félix Eugenio has stated that "there are other issues of the Tourist Centers themselves that César Manrique devised and planned that need conservation, staff clothing, bathroom issues, etcetera". Something in which he believes that "not enough urgency has been worked with that should have been done".
