Lope Afonso, Vice President and Councilor for Tourism of the Cabildo de Tenerife, shows his “concern” about Aena’s decision to raise airport taxes. He considers that it supposes “a jug of cold water for our engine economy, the tourism sector. He emphasizes that “the announcement occurs in the midst of a stabilization and recovery process after the powerful crisis derived from the pandemic and the international situation. A recovery that the data demonstrates and can be weighed down by this new variable.
Afonso explains that “this adds more uncertainty to that of next winter, which already created doubts in the sector. A real threat.” The advisor and insular leader of the Popular Party guarantees “constant contact” with the agents involved “to assess the levels of pressure to be carried out.” He understands that “we are not only talking about institutional issues but about a direct effect on the general interest of Canary Islandsto the competitiveness of the sector, in general, and to the viability of certain companies”.
The island councilor elaborates on this last aspect: “There is a lot at stake because, precisely, many jobs in the Archipelago and in Tenerife in particular also depend on the viability of these companies.” Lope Afonso stresses that “we are concerned because the measure may be that jug of cold water regarding the prospects of having a quiet year in terms of occupation and tourist spending.”
“A blow to fate,” Afonso stresses, “even more so when the sector is on the path to recovery.” He emphasizes that “this threat could curb the good expectations for the end of the year, especially in the winter season, and the launch for the coming years.”
The vice president of the Cabildo underlines: “Connectivity is essential in a destination like ours, a consolidated leader, but which shows fragility and dependence on this specific factor.” He explains it: «The increase in rates would have a direct impact on the price of the ticket and, as a consequence, on the vacation packages. That would jeopardize our competitiveness, even more so compared to rival destinations that exceed us in quantity and quality”, Apostille: “This is a factor that can seriously jeopardize our position in the market”.
Lope Afonso sends a message of hope: “We trust that this unfair, inadequate and harmful measure can be reversed, at least in the part that concerns the Canary Islands.” He concludes: «We hope that this is understood by the regulatory body (the CNMC) that must ratify it. We appeal to the central government, through the acting minister (Héctor Gómez from Tenerife) to also get involved”.