The president announces at the World Travel Market that he will travel to Brussels next week to demand that “this tax not be applied to the islands on journeys with Europe because, if not, our industry will be at a clear disadvantage with the destinations competitors"
The Canary Islands will receive 50% of the visitors from the United Kingdom who will travel to Spain in winter and will manage to keep 60% of their turnover
The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, inaugurated the Canary Islands stand at the World Travel Market this morning, where he announced that he will travel to Brussels on November 15 and 16 to defend that international flights from the Outermost Regions (ORP) as The Canary Islands are exempt from the CO2 emissions rate at least during the period 2024-2027.
“For our destination, it is essential to achieve this exceptionality in the routes with the rest of Europe, the origin of our tourists, since, if not, our industry would be at a clear disadvantage with our competing destinations, such as Turkey, Egypt or the Caribbean,” he stated. during the inauguration. An act in which he was accompanied by the acting Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Héctor Gómez; the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosana Morillo; the Minister of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jéssica de León; and representatives of the seven island councils and companies in the Canarian tourism sector.
"Although the forecasts for both air connectivity and travel reservations are favorable for the winter season, the entry into force on January 1 of the European Emissions Trading Scheme applicable to flights between the Canary Islands and the rest of the European Economic Area , including the United Kingdom, could have very negative effects on our connectivity in the short and medium term and, therefore, on tourism on the islands,” explained Clavijo.
The president recalled that, although there is no longer a legal margin to extend the exceptions to international flights until 2030, as there are for domestic flights, "from the Government of the Canary Islands we have been working from minute one to find solutions to achieve a temporary or compensatory measures that mitigate the effects of the increase in flight fares.”
Clavijo wanted to make clear the firm commitment that the current Canarian Executive has to the transition towards climate neutrality, but stressed that “this transition must be fair, it must take into account our singularities and not further penalize Canarian citizens and companies, especially to our tourism sector.”
Canary Islands, leader in British tourism
The objective of achieving this temporary exemption is to continue maintaining positive air connectivity with markets as relevant to the islands as the United Kingdom. “Our leadership in attracting British tourists is unstoppable and we are light years ahead of the rest of the autonomous communities,” highlighted the president, who recalled that the Canary Islands will receive 50% of the visitors from this country who will travel to Spain. in winter and will manage to keep 60% of its turnover.
Compared to the pre-pandemic winter season, the Canary Islands register spectacular growth in terms of international air seats, with 35% compared to 13% in the rest of the autonomous communities. A much more notable increase in the case of the British market, with which the islands grow by 37% in terms of air connectivity in the high season, compared to 3% for the rest of the communities.
“We are leaders in tourism recovery and growth, and our objective is that the economic benefits of this leadership reach every corner of our archipelago and extend to all citizens,” concluded the president.
For her part, the Minister of Tourism, Jéssica de León, recalled that, in addition to the positive winter forecasts, the recovery of the British issuing market is already a reality since it is at 110% compared to the pre-pandemic period and represents 35%. of the total number of tourists received by the Canary Islands.
“We are going to close the year with 16 million tourists, of which 5,8 million will be British, and with a turnover of 19.000 million euros, of which 7.000 million will correspond to visitors from the United Kingdom,” remarked the counselor. .
Within the framework of the WTM, the Canarian delegation will hold numerous meetings with important airline companies and tour operators such as the TUI Group, Jet2, easyJet or ABTA, the association of travel agencies in the United Kingdom.
Visual and sustainable stand
The 44th edition of the World Travel Market will be held from November 6 to 8 with a forecast of 3.500 exhibitors, 1.500 journalists and an attendance of 36.000 people. A large representation is traveling from the Canary Islands with more than 250 professionals belonging to 150 companies and institutions, 29 of which have individualized space.
The archipelago stand occupies 770 m² and stands out for its 16 large aerial cubes with a strong visual impact, which function as enormous showcases of the Canarian tourist offer and where audiovisual images of the eight islands are projected. In addition, it has four hanging shop windows with Canarian-inspired gardens and native flora.
Sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint are key to this stand, as it consists of LED lights that reduce electricity consumption, a digital application that replaces paper, and reused and stackable furniture that reduces the volume of material to be transported.
