The volcanic crisis that affected La Palma between September 19 and December 14 of last year is awakening a wave of solidarity also in the tourist fair. Its stand, inside the Canary Islands pavilion, received numerous visits yesterday. The most relevant was the one that the kings of Spain, Felipe VI and Doña Letizia, who chose this space to greet the institutional representation of the Canary Islands and were interested in the reconstruction and recovery of the infrastructures and spaces that devastated the volcano.
In the absence of the president of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, it was his Minister of Tourism, Yaiza Castilla, accompanied by the presidents of the seven councils, who was in charge of receiving the monarchs. Among the island leaders, that of La Palma, Mariano Hernández Zapata, who revealed that the king asked about the forecasts of the tourism sector on the beautiful island, and about the progress of the work to make the affected areas habitable again. In addition, Felipe VI showed his intention to visit the island again, although without specifying a date.
The kings were also interested, asking Castile directly in this case, about the forecasts for accommodation activity throughout the Archipelago. Also because of how ómicron is affecting the sector.
The situation of La Palma and the measures that are being put in place for its recovery and to stimulate the island as a specific tourist destination were two of the issues highlighted yesterday by Torres and Castilla in their respective speeches. The president wanted to have a “special memory” for the “beautiful island for a thousand reasons”, and stressed that “the eruption ended with the good news of not having to regret personal injury, and that is the best”, he insisted that, as the rest of the islands “wait with open arms” for their visitors.
Castilla assured that the accommodation activity in La Palma will be recovered “in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Cabildo”, through actions that will be detailed after Fitur; «to do them now and give them the starting gun in February». The counselor highlighted the work of the palm companies and institutions team and the attitude of the population. “Everyone has set an example by addressing the crisis with talent, with effort and with great responsibility,” explained Yaiza Castilla.
Another relevant moment was the visit of the king and queen of Spain to the Moroccan stand, where they were received by the charge d’affaires, Farid Aoulouhaj. The diplomatic crisis that the two countries are experiencing, with the Sahara in the background, lasts nine months. “It is about finding solutions to the problems that concern our peoples,” said Felipe VI.
