The government and business representatives of the tourism sector of the Canary Islands have expressed their "great concern" about the increase in Covid infections on the islands and the risks that this situation may pose for the reactivation of tourism in the archipelago, although they recognize that the circumstances, despite the rebound in positive cases, are different to those of months ago due to the high vaccination rate, both in the islands and in the countries people are coming from.
The Minister of Tourism, Yaiza Castilla, acknowledged yesterday in the parliamentary committee that the high incidence of the coronavirus that is currently registered in the Canary Islands, which she described as "very serious", can be a "stain" for the Canary Islands brand not only in the UK but also in Germany.
However, yesterday afternoon the German authorities updated their list of areas to which they advise against travelling and the Canary Islands were left off this 'black list' due to vaccinations. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Tourism had sent a report to the German Government with a detailed analysis of the epidemiological situation in the archipelago, and the measures that are being adopted to stop the increase in infections, because we are above their threshold for recommended travel.
Castilla expressed her confidence that the "measures and personal responsibility" will lower the incidence and although she reiterated that the objective for this summer is the local and national market, she acknowledged that the small quota of international tourists who are arriving "can easily be lost", but is confident that "the high season can be reached if we accelerate the level of vaccination and lower the rate of incidence."
She also pointed out that there are good expectations regarding the British market due to the pending announcement that fully vaccinated travellers will avoid quarantine on their return to the UK from amber list destinations, probably from July 26th.
As for businessmen in the sector, the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Las Palmas (FEHT), faces this new upturn in infections with "resignation" and, according to one of the members of the board of directors, Nicolás Villalobos, "the hope of the business sector was never that this summer would be dependent on domestic tourism and a trickle of international visitors.” On the other hand, he is confident that if the necessary measures are adopted to advance vaccination "the recovery will come in the fourth quarter."
Also, the president of Ashotel, Jorge Marichal, expressed his concern about the rebound, especially in Tenerife, because it could jeopardize the expected recovery, in such a way that some countries that hoped to open their borders to the Canary Islands will not do so or that the assessment made through the traffic lights may be delayed, which would be a setback for the summer months.
In any case, he pointed out that conditions have changed compared to a few months ago as the number of deaths has dropped significantly and therefore the danger of the virus is not the same. He said, "we cannot continue applying the same variables, especially with the high rate of vaccination”.
