The Council of Tenerifethe Cadiz Provincial Council and the company Binter join forces to promote the connection between two territories that are already related by “light, sea, flavor and good people”as advertised by the Cadiz embassy that has arrived on the island. Connection, above all, by the Carnival, who lives there and here like in few other places. It is the sense of twinning event held in Santa Cruz. In the morning, the new air communication lines are announced, with two more frequencies from July to go and return four times a week from the airports of the Canary Islands to Jerez. In the afternoon, after a pairing lunch between island food and fine Andalusians, comes the meeting between the masked party of the two shores of the Atlantic represented by our murgas and their chirigotas. The night is for dinner – gastronomy is always present – and define common tourism strategies among the representatives of the sector.
The vice president of the Cádiz Provincial Council and head of the Tourist Board, José María Román, cannot attend this Canarian event, much to his regret. He presents by videoconference the promotional days that will have a return visit. Por different reasons, but the main one is that there is a large Canarian colony there and many people from Cadiz reside here.
There are forty professionals who have arrived. A dozen belong to companies in the tourism sector; a dozen come on behalf of different municipalities; six are part of entities or institutions, both public and private, and twelve are part of the chirigota run by El Canijo.
The Head of Tourism Promotion and Marketing of the Provincial Tourism Board, María Isabel Montalvo, explains the benefits of the 45 municipalities in the province, including its 80 beaches and the diversity of a geography that ranges from the privileged coastline to mountains ideal for hiking .
Laura Castro, hostess
For Tenerife, the island director of Tourism, Laura Castro, excuses the absence. for scheduling reasons. of the insular president, Pedro Martín. Castro highlights: «We have carried out work with tour operators and airlines during the pandemic with the aim of recovering tourism and specifically the national market; Air connectivity is key to this.” Therefore, she adds her, “We are pleased that Binter is reinforcing its flight offer, which will bring new opportunities for the Island.” And he concludes: «Furthermore, under the umbrella of the party that most represents us in both territories, such as carnivals».
The presentation, held at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Mencey, is also attended by Binter’s Sales and Marketing Director, Miguel Ángel Suárez. He underlines the commitment to the direct connection with the Jerez de la Frontera airport from Tenerife North. It has been maintained since the start of flights to this destination in 2020, despite the pandemic and with prospects for improvement. Connections between the Cadiz airport and the Island are made on Tuesdays and Fridays so far. Now the airline doubles its flight offer, starting in July, with two more that depart from Gran Canaria on Mondays and Thursdays. The connection with Gando from any Island is free. The new aircraft from the manufacturer Embraer E195-E2 make the offer even more attractive. In the words of Suárez, “it is the quietest, cleanest and most efficient single-aisle reactor in its category.” An experience of great comfort with 132 double seats.
Carnival as the main connecting link
The Santa Cruz Carnival House hosts an evening showdown between the Chirigota del Canijo, led by Pedro Serrano, and the murga Zeta-Zetas, led by Javier Lemus. The island’s director of Tourism, Laura Castro, and the mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, welcome the visitors, who recalls that only the carnivals of Cádiz and Santa Cruz are Festivals of International Tourist Interest. The chicharrera formation –winner of three first in four years, as well as Got Talent– puts on stage its 2017 presentation with Besay Pérez. To the rhythm of Gladiator to remember two mythical stanzas: tribute to women and Canaries Without Wings. La Chirigota, with her mentor in top form after overcoming a stroke and losing 50 kilos, spreads humour. “In Cádiz we have much more than the Falla theater”, he says to invite the almost 200 people, mostly members of murgas, to visit the Tacita de Plata. | Humberto Gonar
