The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Pedro Martín, held a working meeting yesterday with some of the main tour operators in the national market prior to the International Tourism Fair (Fitur), “to advance the results and the most important lines of the strategy tourism in Tenerife for this year, with which the Island wants to consolidate its main issuing markets and consolidate the figures of other emerging markets with significant growth potential, such as the United States or France.
Pedro Martín referred to the good connectivity data on the Island, which has its best reservation figures in winter, with 4.2 million regular air seats, and a forecast of 5,362,997 seats for the summer, almost 400,000 more seats than in 2019. All of this is also accompanied by the consolidation of international flag carriers, such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, United Airlines or TAP Portugal. “We are connected to 141 destinations in 29 markets through 63 airline groups, figures that place us as the first destination in the Canary Islands, with 38% of air traffic. We are also the first island in air traffic and arrival of tourists from the Peninsula with 42 percent of the total, ”he added.
The insular director of Tourism, Laura Castro, and the CEO of Tourism of Tenerife, David Pérez, as well as the first vice president, Enrique Arriaga, participated in this meeting. On behalf of the tour operators, representatives of Iberostar, Hotel Group, Vueling, Binter, United Airlines, Globalia, Avoris, Grupo Kiss, Plus Ultra, Tourmundial and Iberia Express attended. Likewise, representatives of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the University of La Laguna, Ashotel and the mayors of Arona, Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz participated.
Beyond the figures, the president also highlighted the main investments in tourism infrastructure, such as those integrated into the Tenerife and the Sea program and the Tourism Product Improvement Program, to which the insular Corporation plans to allocate approximately 43 million of euros. “We have completed 31 works so far in the mandate and another five are currently underway, with a global investment of more than 28 million euros,” he explained.
Between 2023 and 2024, it is also planned that another 18 actions will be carried out, worth 12.8 million euros. Among them, the project of the midlands trail (in 7 municipalities), the creation of an insular network for bird watching or the comprehensive renovation of the Hotel Taoro, in Puerto de la Cruz, stand out.
In terms of sustainability and digitization, Pedro Martín recalled that the Island is certified as a Smart Tourist Destination and as a Biosphere destination, “a recognition that obliges us to constantly review and update our sustainability strategy.”
Sustainability
Pedro Martín also referred to the Tenerife Reset programme, an ambitious plan based on sustainability and technology applied to the destination endowed with 7.5 million euros. It includes actions to improve the accessibility and digitization of the trails, boost business competitiveness, the design and implementation of ecotourism products and the preparation of a carbon footprint compensation plan.
In the absence of knowing the official data for the end of the year, in 2022 the island registered a total of 4,334,225 tourists in hotels and apartments, of which 1.89 million arrived from peninsular airports, representing 42 percent of the total. market share of national travelers (26 connections and 8 air groups).
Regarding the figures for peninsular tourism staying on the Island, between January and November a total of 550,203 travelers were recorded, which places the recovery percentage at 93 percent compared to 2019.
It should also be noted that Tenerife recovered 96 percent of peninsular traffic and 98 percent of international traffic in 2022.
