The president of the Cabildo, María Dolores Corujo, the councilor of Tourism Promotion and president of the SPEL, Ángel Vázquez, and the CEO of the Society for the Promotion of Exterior of Lanzarote (SPEL), Héctor Fernández, met this Thursday at the Cabildo with representatives of the Lanzarote Tourism Federation. This association brings together the main sectors of tourism through their corresponding associations: Asolan (Hotels and Tourist Accommodation), Hostelan (hotels and restaurants), Association of Travel Agencies, Association of Leisure, BUCO (Diving Centers and Schools), Aserent (Association of Rent a Car) and Astratur (Association of Discretionary Transport).
The purpose of the meeting was to analyze the situation after the bankruptcy of the British tour operator Thomas Cook, assist the affected tourists and alleviate the possible adverse effects of the disappearance of the third tourist operator -by volume- in Lanzarote, as well as establish ways of collaboration to maintain the strength of the sector without renouncing the maintenance of the jobs created and the criteria of quality and sustainability that make Lanzarote's tourist offer unique.
At the conclusion of the meeting, described by the attendees as "cordial and productive", María Dolores Corujo reported that this will be the first of upcoming meetings with social agents and sectors affected by the bankruptcy of the British tour operator.
"I have full confidence in the professionalism and strength of Lanzarote's tourism", Corujo said. "The Cabildo has the obligation to talk to everyone, to collect all the data, all the opinions and to collaborate with all institutions, public or private, to find solutions to this situation" -he reflected-. "As an administration we are going to measure up and we are going to put all our resources to work, but we are also going to ask for the involvement of all agents."
The Councilor for Tourism Promotion and President of the SPEL, Ángel Vázquez, for his part, expressed his full confidence in the tourism sector and highlighted the permanent collaboration of the Cabildo of Lanzarote with the sector. "We maintain constant contact with employers and the main agents in order to rigorously estimate the most immediate consequences of this bankruptcy", Vázquez declared, "and what is more important, try to foresee the consequences it will have over the next few months."
