This Thursday, Jorge Marichal, the president of Ashotel, urged public authorities to provide a swift resolution to the extensive queues for taxis and the congestion during peak times in the passport control areas for travellers arriving from outside the Schengen zone—issues which, in his view, undermine the appeal of the destination.
In a press conference aimed at reviewing the tourism status, Marichal expressed his concerns regarding the lack of investment in one of Spain’s busiest airports. He believes that, in addition to the previously mentioned issues, the facilities, such as shops and dining options, do not meet the standards expected of an international airport.
He lamented that the airport operates on a “patchwork” basis despite the investment “shortfall”: “They silenced our concerns with eight million euros for terminal upgrades, which are clearly insufficient, and they merely joined the runways,” Marichal stated,
“We demand that both the Canarian and Spanish political leaders take the airport’s challenges seriously, particularly the spatial constraints,” he summarised, while stressing that it is unacceptable for clients to endure hours of waiting after disembarking before finally reaching their accommodations, “where now we must ask them 42 questions instead of 13.”
He mentioned the initiative by the Ministry of the Interior to establish a platform for traveller registration, which, according to Ashotel’s vice president Victoria López, “does not even permit the inclusion of characters from different alphabets that we utilise, such as those from Nordic countries or China”.
Concerning taxis, they reiterated the necessity for peak hours when the Granadilla de Abona taxi fleet is overwhelmed by the volume of patrons at the stop; thus, taxis from other localities should be permitted to service passengers at the airport, allowing them to drop off and leave empty.
“We do not intend to jeopardise anyone’s employment, but when queues reach unreasonable lengths, taxis at hand should be allowed to load passengers. This is vital for maintaining a sustainable and mobile tourist image,” he remarked.
Marichal highlighted that, under current regulations, hotels are not allowed “nor are they inclined” to engage in discretionary passenger transportation. However, if the situation persists, they might advocate for “more flexible regulations to prevent hotels from losing customers due to these issues.”
On the subject of passport controls, he called for measures driven by technology, pointing out that it is not solely a matter for law enforcement, but rather an issue of infrastructure and not anticipating the consequences of Brexit, resulting in only “six machines,” many of which are “facing the wall.”
86% Occupancy for the Winter Season
Ashotel officials have conveyed their contentment with the progress observed in tourism over the year, noting that the sector “continues to drive the Canarian economy” with an occupancy rate of 86% for the winter season.
Nonetheless, Victoria López cautioned that the recent growth correlates with the rise of international disputes which, “should they conclude soon, as we hope, could jeopardise customer retention if loyalty is not maintained.”
In broader terms, Marichal indicated that a 25% increase in activity is anticipated compared to 2019, suggesting that the sector has not only rebounded to pre-pandemic levels but has also improved, with encouraging figures in terms of seasonal distribution, indicating that “tourism is becoming more evenly spread throughout the year.”
