Tax collection reaches 3,441 million, 17.5% more than before the pandemic
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, December 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canary Islands led the Spanish tourism recovery in 2022, the year in which the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the archipelago linked to tourism reached 35.5 percent of the islands’ economy up to 16,961 million euros, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and marking a maximum in the historical series, a trend that has accelerated throughout this year.
This is clear from the Impactur 2022 study, which includes the economic impact of tourism in the Canary Islands and was prepared jointly by the Government of the Canary Islands and the Alliance for Tourism Excellence, Exceltur.
The vice president of the Government of the Canary Islands, Manuel Domínguez, the Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jéssica de León and the executive vice president of Exceltur, José Luis Zoreda, presented this Friday the data and conclusions of the document that shows an outstanding performance in tourism activity and They confirm the important role of tourism in the Canary Islands, whose recovery was above the Spanish average in 2022, 9.3 percent compared to 2.2 percent nationally.
Thus, tourism accounted for 39.7 percent of total employment on the islands, which stood at 344,358 jobs, also above pre-pandemic levels, data that shows that the tourism sector is an important driver of job creation. employment.
The report points out that, for every 100 euros generated directly by tourism, 44.9 euros are contributed to other branches of activity and for every 100 jobs in direct contact with tourists, 38 jobs are generated indirectly in other sectors of the economy. Canary Islands, includes a note from the Executive.
Tourism also allowed us to collect 3,441 million euros in 2022 through taxes, an increase of 17.5 percent compared to 2019, before the pandemic.
The vice president of the Government of the Canary Islands noted that “The Canary Islands have demonstrated their strength and resilience, leading the national tourism recovery, with intense volumes of private investment aligned with the commitment of the Government of the Canary Islands and other local institutions for the continuous improvement of the sector.”
In addition, he indicated that “the highest levels of economic activity linked to tourism occurred within a framework of margins that were greatly eroded by the increase in operating costs in 2022,” and cited energy prices with an increase of 28.9 percent; fuels, which suffered an increase of 27.7 percent, supplies 17.1 percent and salaries 19.8 percent, according to the report.
DOMÍNGUEZ HIGHLIGHTS THE BUSINESS AND INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT
“This fact demonstrates,” in the opinion of the vice president, “the continued business and institutional commitment to consolidating the recovery of activity, overcoming the geopolitical context of the war conflict in Ukraine and the economic context of the European source markets, the slowdown of the economy, the inflationary spiral and the rise in interest rates that reduces the tourist spending capacity of families and companies.
For her part, the Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jéssica de León, highlighted that “this leadership has been possible thanks to the savings of families during the pandemic, the desire to travel and also the international positioning of our destination as a result of intense work. carried out by Promotur Turismo de las Islas Canarias”.
To these factors, he continued, “we must add the commitment of international and national operators to the islands and the high connectivity, as well as the loyalty of the Spanish and Canarian markets.”
In addition, he stressed that “the recovery of international demand in 2022 was based less on the influx of visitors, with levels very similar to the pre-pandemic, and more on higher average daily spending at the destination, 98.7 euros, well above the 84.2 euros in 2019”.
De León pointed out that “now is the time to resume the roadmap to transition to a tourism model in balance with socio-environmental sustainability and with the greatest return and prosperity for Canarian society, with key challenges such as the organization of tourist use of the housing or advance in the diversification of the offer”.
ZOREDA: VACATION RENTAL IS A “CANCER” FOR TOURISM
For his part, the vice president of Exceltur, José Luis Zoreda, shared how the results show the intense degree of resilience of tourism in the Canary Islands and assured that the business commitment that has been evidenced in the high levels of investment in this recovery has been key. repositioning of products and the generation of employment, despite the high debt accumulated in the health crisis and the situation of margins stressed by the accumulated increase in costs, as evidenced by the results of the Study.
Zoreda indicated that “to maintain the historical contribution of tourism to the society and economy of the Canary Islands, it is necessary from the political leadership to commit to governance that facilitates greater alignment of public and private agents on the islands, with a strategic vision and capacity to action on critical tactical challenges such as the regulation and control of the use of tourist rental housing on the islands, the generation of public spaces with high quality of life, the diversification and repositioning of the tourist offer, and influencing the uniqueness of the proposal of the Canarian destinations and the balance between tourist activity and the greatest benefit for citizens”.
He did not hide that vacation rentals are a “cancer” within the tourism sector that generates “unfair competition” and a lot of “social tension” because citizens feel that they are being expelled from the cities because the living conditions are “increasingly more complicated.” .
