The mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, on Friday asked the Advisory Council of Canary Islands Ports about the implementation of port services required by the Playa Blanca port to meet the demands of the small or boutique cruise segment, allowing this type of ship to dock at the southern facility.
"We are concerned about towing, mooring, and pilotage services, and even further by security and immigration controls. Playa Blanca is an attractive destination for shipping companies and shipowners, but there are essential services that the port must offer if we intend to receive cruise ships and remain in the market," pointed out the municipal leader.
Given the delay in these and other matters, such as the lack of port signage, the cafeteria service, and the terminal operating at one hundred percent, the mayor requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Public Works and Mobility of the Canary Islands Government, Pablo Rodríguez, with the participation of the managing director of the public business entity Puertos Canarios, José Gilberto Moreno, both present at Friday's Advisory Council.
"We believe there is a lack of information and delays in management to finalize the luxury cruise season's schedule of calls. We were told that November was the designated month, but that has not been the case," the mayor added. Yaiza knows from reliable sources that there is a Four Seasons anchorage call in Playa Blanca in 2026, but the Ports authority also provided no details about it.
Sales Strategy
High-net-worth cruise passengers demand traditional destination experiences, such as visits to wineries or cheese dairies in Lanzarote, or guided tours of emblematic sites. This works very well in valued destinations like Madeira. “From Yaiza, because that does depend on us, we are preparing a destination promotion strategy aimed at captivating the market that interests us. We have an opportunity for local businesses that does not lead to mass tourism, and we must seize it with the support of the Government of the Canary Islands,” concluded Óscar Noda.
