Hoteliers seek priority for travellers over commercial zones and a reduction in parking fees
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 5th February (Europa Press) –
The hotel and extra-hotel association of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, Ashotel, has appreciated the announcement made by AENA regarding an upcoming investment exceeding 1,000 million in the Canarian airports, with 800 million allocated to the airports of Tenerife Sur and Tenerife Norte. However, they have cautioned against any potential increase in airline rates, as this would undermine the competitiveness of the tourist destination.
The hotel association also believes that, apart from the funds earmarked for these crucial infrastructures, it is noteworthy that Aena acknowledges the existing deficiencies, particularly at Tenerife Sur, the seventh busiest airport in terms of operations across the Spanish network. They urge the airport operator to transform the islands’ airports into facilities worthy of Canary Islands as a premier destination.
“It highlights that Tenerife’s airports have lagged behind, which is particularly important as there will be significant growth in the number of operations post-pandemic, and the capabilities of Tenerife Sur ‘have reached their limits,'” noted Marichal.
Despite previous efforts to connect the two terminals and expand security checks, the reality remains that the primary airport in Tenerife “falls short of the infrastructure that a tourist destination like Tenerife deserves,” Marichal added.
Furthermore, the president of Ashotel highlighted the need for a balance between the facility’s capacity and its commercial aspects.
“We must remember that airports are infrastructures designed for arriving at and departing to various destinations by aeroplane, yet it often seems like we perceive them as mere shopping centres where we incidentally catch a flight. I point this out regarding the arrival facilities, where passport controls lead to overcrowding and long queues, sometimes forcing passengers to wait outside the terminal itself,” he explained.
In this context, he stressed that while commercial activities are significant, there must be equilibrium with the departure terminals. “There should be space for everything,” he stated.
On a different note, Marichal also commented on the current parking fees managed by Aena at the airports, which cater to both tourists and residents, asserting that these should be reasonable.
“It’s absurd that leaving a vehicle for two days at Tenerife Sur can cost over 60 euros, given the irony that it can actually be cheaper than purchasing a plane ticket,” he exemplified.
“I believe this pricing strategy needs reassessment, as our goal must be to enhance competitiveness, not diminish it,” remarked the business leader.
Passport control issues
In conjunction with the new investment revealed by AENA, Ashotel asserts that immediate actions are necessary to simplify the arrival processes for non-Schengen territories, such as the British, the primary foreign market for islands like Tenerife.
“There needs to be an increased allocation of human resources within these controls since, without sufficient personnel, expanding the facilities serves little purpose, as queues will persist,” he stated.
He added that “if the solution does not come from the Ministry of the Interior with additional staff, perhaps alternative private security solutions should be explored to effectively expedite these mandatory checks.”
Additionally, Marichal reminded us of “another issue” managed by local authorities, such as the “long queues” for taxis at Tenerife Sur and occasionally Tenerife Norte, which remains “unsolved thus far.”
