Following today’s weekly Governing Council meeting, Tenerife has finally moved to alert Level 2 meaning a relaxation in restrictions and increased confidence in the island as a tourist destination. The epidemiological data for the island has continually followed a downward trend for several weeks, but the island couldn’t be reduced from Level 3 last week with Gran Canaria, as islands must stay in a level for 14 days so that data can be assessed.
Although many people don’t see the change in the restrictions between Level 2 and Level 3 as a big thing, it is more than just hospitality that is affected. Gyms and spas can have a more favourable capacity, excursions can cater for more people and shops and shopping centres can use more communal areas.
However, there are benefits in the case of hospitality and nightlife venues, as it now means that 8 people can meet in public, private, or sit together in bars and restaurants, using 75% of capacity outdoors and 50% of capacity indoors (with the correct spacing of tables etc in place), and if their licence allows, they can stay open until 2am.
The change of level was announced by the vice President of the Government, Antonio Olivera, who also confirmed that the rest of the islands are staying in the current levels:
LEVEL 3: Fuerteventura
LEVEL 2: Tenerfe, Gran Canaria
LEVEL 1: Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro
Olivera also announced that the Government has listened to the nightlife associations of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, who have requested longer opening hours with the Covid certificate for entry to their venues. This means that nightclubs and discos can now stay open until 4am for the islands in Level 1 and 2, and until 3am on the islands at Level 3, but the Covid certificate must be used, and no dancing rules still apply.
Finally, the level change takes effect from 00:00h on Friday (midnight tonight), and the change for nightlife on Friday night after publication in the BOC tomorrow.
