Alpidio Armas acknowledges that the island “transforms entirely” during the days leading up to an “influx” of individuals who will evaluate the services.
Valverde (El Hierro), 9 (Europa Press)
Following the disappointment of the 2021 edition, which was cancelled due to the pandemic, and the extraordinary event that was anticipated in 2022, the island of El Hierro eagerly awaits the ‘descent of the Virgen de los Reyes’. This event peaks on the first weekend of July when the ‘beloved mother’ traverses the island en route to the capital, Valverde.
With ferry companies and airlines operating at full capacity in ticket sales and anticipating the customary reinforcements, the island is confronted with a logistical challenge to accommodate over 30,000 individuals—more than triple the island’s resident population—who will be scattered across the homes of family and friends, apartments, small hotels, and various holiday rental options.
“This fundamentally alters El Hierro. There will be crowds, difficulties in securing tables at restaurants, challenges in commuting as queues appear everywhere. We are unaccustomed to the congestion on the roads between villages. There are parking issues and even trouble finding necessary items at supermarkets. This is the reality, and we are aware of it. Therefore, we are striving to mitigate the impact that a significant influx of people may have,” summarises the president of the Cabildo, Alpidio Armas, for Europa Press.
In this context, he does not shy away from the necessity to “make provisions” for essential services including electricity, water, sanitation, and waste management to ensure that services remain uninterrupted throughout July, as the island “changes entirely,” especially during the initial weekend.
Since the island has gradually been integrated into the tourism industry, the ‘descent’ has evolved from a family celebration for the Herreños into one of the most anticipated events in the festive calendar of the archipelago. Indeed, some Herreños look forward more to the ‘climb’, the return of the Virgin to her sanctuary, which occurs a month later.
“We have already sold the descent; further promotion is unnecessary,” asserts Zanja Armas, confirming the island’s tourist saturation, despite some accommodation potentially remaining available for last-minute cancellations.
Another concern for the president is whether the island can meet visitor demand and maintain service quality. “We urge local business owners to be aware of what is approaching and to make the necessary preparations,” he states.
Seeking Waiters and Chefs
The president from El Hierro does not overlook the difficulties in meeting the demand of all visitors, citing the “tremendously challenging” task of locating chefs and waitstaff to fulfil restaurant staffing needs, prompting the execution of accelerated training initiatives.
In terms of mobility, as tourism on the island predominantly relies on rental cars, the Cabildo is preparing a shuttle service to transport attendees to the event venues.
Mayuri Castañeda, a member of Ashotel on the island and proprietor of an apartment complex, states that it is already “fully booked” and is awaiting openings for last-minute cancellations, with average prices rising by 10% over conventional rates due to high demand.
“I have been selling it for over two years in anticipation of the last descent,” she notes, acknowledging that El Hierro, with just over 3,600 beds, is relatively small, which has led to social media activity each time the possibility of accommodation becomes known, even those outside the regulated offerings.
“There’s always a market for everything, unfortunately, and typically, those are the individuals who exploit the situation the most,” she comments.
Castañeda hopes that visitors will not only opt to converge during the first weekend of July because doing so would detract from the “essence” of the celebration, which lasts the entire month, featuring the Virgin’s visit to all the island’s towns. However, she admits to a “decline” in reservations throughout the remainder of the month.
“People struggle to comprehend that the ‘descent’ spans the entire month and coincides with the ‘climb’, which is equally beautiful yet bears a different significance—one is more joyful while the other is more wistful. However, the devotion remains the same, leading to confusion for those outside our community,” she explains.
Path of the Virgin: Bring Your Provisions
The president of APyME — the island’s business association — Feliciano López, expresses that there is no “concern” regarding potential “overcrowding” on the island but acknowledges that all services must be “prepared” for the anticipated increase in demand.
One notable characteristic of the ‘descent’ is that on Saturday, July 5, the island will effectively “close down” with no establishments remaining open, necessitating that attendees consider their own food and drink provisions.
“It is crucial to inform people that if they plan to partake in the ‘descent’ along the Virgin’s path, they will not find any open establishments to provide sustenance; they must come prepared,” he advises.
Feliciano firmly believes that the ‘descent’ provides an economic boost for the island, yet he cautions that family-run businesses are often small and cannot sustain a “sacrifice” for an entire month. For this reason, his association is collaborating with the Cabildo to facilitate training and recruitment of workers, particularly waitstaff.
Regarding the potential shortage of specific products on the island—an issue experienced in the 2017 edition—he is optimistic that this year will be different, as the island is now connected to Tenerife with two ferry companies providing twelve weekly crossings.
