Lanzarote’s president announces new approach to tourism on island, while praising German tourists

Lanzarote’s President, María Dolores Corujo, has praised German tourists as the island attempts to reduce its dependence on British visitors.

The President stated that the German market aligns with the island’s goal of attracting ‘higher-quality’ tourism, implying that UK holidaymakers do not fit that category.

Lanzarote’s council delegation attended the Berlin Tourism Fair to promote the island’s tourism and meet with Germany’s main tour operators, airline, and airport leaders.

The president’s comments come after she sparked controversy last month by announcing that the island was saturated and needed to alter its approach to tourism.

She stated that this would result in the island receiving fewer tourists but with more significant spending in the destination.

Approximately 50% of all tourists to Lanzarote are British, and Ms Corujo has outlined her intention to diversify the market and reduce the island’s reliance on UK visitors by welcoming more ‘upmarket’ holidaymakers from countries like France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany, as well as Spanish mainland tourists.

While some hotel chiefs in Lanzarote have disputed the saturation claims, the island’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism and has been impacted by seasonal variation and events such as the pandemic.

Diversifying the economy remains a permanent priority for the island.

However, the director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the United Kingdom has emphasized that Spain would not discriminate against visitors based on their nationality.

Spain’s focus is on becoming a more sustainable and competitive tourism destination, and its travel industries need to work together to address the challenges of mass tourism.

Spain’s Balearic Islands have also aimed to reduce their dependence on British tourists in recent years.

This shift towards upscale tourism has led to an increase in property prices, making it difficult for locals to afford rent or buy property.

The situation has left many people struggling to survive, particularly those with regular salaries.