The taxi sector in the tourist municipalities of the South takes air thanks to the progressive tourist recovery that began this summer, after a pandemic that placed the professionals behind the wheel on the edge of the precipice with the closure of the hotel plant.
The taxi drivers of Granadilla de Abona, in charge of picking up the passage that arrives at the South airport, spent almost half a year with only 20% of the service, which forced them to work, they say, up to 14 hours a day to collect a third of what they entered before the coronavirus. Only 16 vehicles of the 191 dedicated to this activity in the municipality came to operate at the airport facilities during that time.
Professionals from Granada, like those from the rest of the southern region, have received financial aid from the central and Canary Islands governments, Cabildo and, unlike other municipalities, the City Council subsidies have been processed as self-employed workers. “It has not been a direct help, although it was tried on a couple of occasions and, although there was a predisposition from the Mayor’s Office, they told us that it was technically not viable,” Víctor Ramos, president of the Granadilla de Abona Autotaxis Association, explained to this newspaper. .
Now, luckily, the reality is different. The service has increased to 66% in the Reina Sofía thanks to a greater flow of tourists from central and northern Europe and, above all, from the United Kingdom. “We already cover expenses, foreign tourism is gradually gaining strength; we have an airport every three days and that is an important advance, ”said Ramos. Despite the economic improvement, the numbers still do not add up to hiring employees.
Ramos explained that the planes that land in the South are practically the same as months ago, but with the difference that now they arrive full of passengers. “Air traffic is half of before the pandemic, but almost all flights are chartered,” he said. Most of the airport races take place in the tourist areas of Arona and Adeje, where there is a greater movement in the main leisure areas, both day and night.
Regarding the forecasts for the autumn-winter tourist campaign, high season in the Canary Islands, the representative of the sector is moderately optimistic: “AENA anticipates higher air traffic, although some tour operators, such as TUI, are cautious and forecast slight growth, but the little that goes up is going to be noticed ”.
intrusion
On the other hand, the group does not hide its concern with a problem that arises in times of tourist boom and economic reactivation: intrusion in the sector. To try to combat this practice, a meeting has been called tomorrow at the City Council of Granadilla in which they will participate, in addition to a representation of transport professionals, Civil Guard, Canary Police, Local Police, Cabildo inspectors and AENA. “When tourism returns, intrusion appears, but since there is a police presence it disappears,” says Víctor Ramos, who explains it with an example: “On Saturdays, the busiest day at the airport, we do a couple of races in two or three three hours, but when the Police are there, we can reach three and even four ”.
For years, steering wheel professionals have warned of the movement of people in the terminal who “harass” the passengers they invite to leave through another door, where a rental car, a van or even a private vehicle awaits them. charges at taxi price and many times in advance. That is why they ask for more controls, more police presence and more information on posters about the location of the taxi rank at the airport. In addition, they recall that this practice encourages the underground economy and has a negative impact on the island’s image.
