The Cueva del Viento, a tourist attraction managed by the public company Ideco on behalf of the Cabildo de Tenerife, welcomed 22,837 visitors from 63 nationalities in 2023, representing a 95.5% occupancy rate compared to the total capacity.
José Carlos Acha, the Minister of Culture and Museums for the island, has particularly emphasised the high level of satisfaction among visitors, stating that “after conducting over 3,000 surveys, the overall experience has been rated at 9.5, encouraging us to continue delivering high-quality service to our clients.” Acha also mentioned that “due to the emergency situation declared in August 2023 arising from the devastating fire in the Tenerife mountains, we were compelled to temporarily close the facility until optimal safety conditions could be ensured for visitors, resulting in the unavailability of over 400 spots. In 2024, a new guide will be hired which will allow for an increase in the number of tours.”
The substantial attendance in the past year reflects the interest in the cave not only among tourists visiting Tenerife, but also among the local community, with a total of 4,763 Canarians exploring the interior of this volcanic tube last year – the longest in Europe and the sixth longest in the world.
In 2023, 1,594 guided tours were organised, comprising of 813 in Spanish, 478 in English, 193 in German, and 110 specifically tailored for groups. Moreover, there were numerous tours for schoolchildren, with 580 students from 28 educational institutions across the island benefiting from reduced-price tickets subsidised by the Cabildo.
Various enhancements were implemented at the facility in 2023, including the revision of the Self-Protection Plan, conducting an accident simulation involving personnel from different entities, staff training in first aid and radio communication, improvements to the aesthetics of the Visitor Center, as well as cleaning of access to the Cueva del Viento and the parking area.
