After some very complicated days that have required all our efforts to organize the return of our tourists to their places of origin, we can say that today Lanzarote is closed for tourism.
I can say that in general terms the return operation has been a success because, until last Friday the 27th and within a period of 10 days, more than 45,000 tourists were able to leave the island. We estimate that in Lanzarote there may be only between 400 and 800 tourists left, most of whom are long-term clients who are staying in the so-called "on-call accommodations" on the island (4 tourist establishments: Apartamentos El Guarapo, Bungalows Famara, Nautilus and Villas Rubicón, in addition to 3 Vacation Homes: La Bahía Azul, Villa Victoria and Playa Alhambra II); although, after the latest clarification from the government, those few establishments in which there may still be tourists staying may also remain open, awaiting their departure. Within that figure, we calculate that a barely representative number of tourists, who had planned to enjoy the entire winter season with us, are scattered in rural or vacation homes.
There is no doubt that the work, involvement and coordination of everyone has been crucial. In this sense, I have to thank and highlight the close contact and fluid coordination between the Cabildo and the tourist entities of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands in order to identify the accommodated clients and their nationalities to concentrate and transfer that information to the airlines and tour operators so that they could schedule their operations, thus managing to carry out a staggered departure, not without difficulties, in such a short time. From these lines I want to thank the Lanzarote Tourist Federation and ASOLAN, AENA Lanzarote, the handling companies Swissport and Aviapartner; ISTAC, Promotur, the Tourism Department of the Government of the Canary Islands and, of course, the team of professionals from Turismo Lanzarote who from minute zero have put themselves on the front line to face this unprecedented crisis.
Also highlight the role played by the Governments of our main issuing markets that have organized charter flights in a short time, especially the German, British, Italian, French and Dutch. It has been a great job of the embassies and consulates, whose staff have diligently attended to their citizens, offering constant and continuous information on the rescue operations that were being programmed.
I would also like to acknowledge all the workers at the Airport and all the accommodation establishments on the island, magnificent professionals who have lived up to the task until the last day that Terminal 1 has remained operational and until the last moment of the hotels' closure, attending to their clients in everything they could need, I assure you that sometimes in very complicated moments.
And of course, I also have to thank the work of the State Security Forces and Corps, the Local Police, the Security and Emergency personnel, Civil Protection and other NGOs who have always been there, collaborating and guaranteeing the safety of all.
It has been a great job and together they have shown that Lanzarote remains a mature and first-class destination. This pandemic requires us to close our doors to air traffic (for the moment we only have 3 weekly connections with Madrid and 2 with Barcelona, and it could even be restricted even more), and it forces us to confine ourselves in our homes, but we do so with the hope and desire that sooner rather than later we can overcome this crisis that no one expected, knowing that all this effort and sacrifice will have been worth it when the island is once again full of life and dynamism, and tourism once again becomes the great economic engine of our island.
On the part of Turismo Lanzarote, the machinery will not stop and now more than ever it is time to redesign our strategies, continue with our work in these exceptional circumstances and redouble our efforts to keep the flame of Lanzarote alive in the hearts of the hundreds of thousands of Europeans who choose us every year to spend their holidays.
From here I do not want to miss the opportunity to appeal to the responsibility and good work of the European tour operators, large companies that have always proven to be up to the most difficult circumstances and that today more than ever must act with a serious and exemplary behavior towards our hoteliers, thus demonstrating that, only with mutual support between all, the tourism industry as a whole will be able to move forward.
I can only tell all our tourists that Lanzarote is not saying goodbye, but only see you later. And be sure that this wonderful island, unique in the world, when all this health emergency situation has passed, will welcome you again with open arms and with the hospitality that the entire population of Lanzarote has always shown.
