Investments for the year 2024 will have an amount of 15.497.372,73 euros, which represents an increase of 42% compared to the previous year
Councilor Carlos Álamo explains that the accounts that are submitted to the plenary session of the Cabildo “prioritize qualitative growth based on an increase in spending through a quality tourist offer, which allows attracting tourists with greater purchasing power and staying more days in Gran “Canary”.
Gran Canaria Tourism approved this Friday, November 10, after an ordinary session of its Governing Council and without any vote against, a budget project for the year 2024 worth 24.072.728,67 euros, the largest of its kind. history, with an increase in investment of 29% in real investments (9.363.336,38 euros) and 68% more in capital transfers (6.134.035,35 euros), for an average increase in investments of 42%, with the intention of consolidating the recovery of the sector, reinforcing the commitment to the municipalities, supporting tourism products such as carnival and reinforcing the modernization of the destination based on the new criteria and demands that are imposed in the tourism reality of the post-pandemic era. This project will be submitted to the plenary session of the Gran Canaria Council for final approval.
“This is the largest initial budget in the historical series of Tourism of Gran Canaria and offers coverage of the priorities established in the strategic plan for the period 2021-2025. In this sense, as we have already advanced, we continue to commit to working and collaborating hand in hand with the 21 municipalities, in the development and enhancement of their tourism products. It will also serve to continue with the improvements in the tourist infrastructure, in the offer and in the products of the tourist destination," said the Minister of Tourism of Gran Canaria, Carlos Álamo, before highlighting that the main objective in the design of These budgets consist of “encouraging greater customer spending, prioritizing qualitative growth both per day and per stay, and thereby continuing to improve the overall turnover of the sector and ensuring that the income generated by the tourism industry can have a greater impact on the 21 municipalities on the Island.”
The Gran Canaria Tourism budget has followed an expansive dynamic in recent years with the aim of, first, addressing and then consolidating the recovery of the sector after the international shutdown of the industry due to the Covid health pandemic. In 2020, an amount of 13.638.590,64 euros was approved. In 2021 the budget rose to 14.138.590 euros. This was followed by an allocation of 64 euros the following year and an item of 16.512.910,17 euros in 18.939.500,71. An item of 2023 euros has been budgeted for the 2023 financial year. Likewise, the counselor recalled that the tourist spending statistics in the destination have increased by 24.072.728,67% since 30. Official data for the first half of 2019 point to a turnover of 2023 euros, when in the first half of 2.606.210.176 recorded a turnover of 2019 euros. This indicator has been especially good in the current year, since the comparison with 1.997.383.556 shows an increase of 2022%, with a positive difference of 27,33 euros deposited. “This is achieved through a quality tourism offer, focusing on offering experiences in the destination that we have tested a significant percentage of our tourists like, which allows us to attract tourists with greater purchasing power and stay more days in Gran Canaria” Alamo added.
We believe that the year 2023 will end up with approximately 4,5 million tourists, in terms similar to or greater than those of 2019, but our main concern is not in the number but in the way in which the presence of these clients has an impact in the Island's economy. We have understood that sustainability in tourism, on an island with a fragile and limited territory, must also be social. 35% of the island economy depends directly on this industry and we are committed to adding value to our products with the intention that the tourists who come are willing to spend more. To do this we must consolidate the quality of the product," explained the Minister of Tourism, Carlos Álamo.
Álamo pointed out that "we have agreed to maintain the main lines of action of recent years, which have been successful, and to increase the amount we allocate to promotion in our main markets because the situation demands it." The councilor explained that the diversification of markets has made it possible to maintain results and reduce dependence on the main clients, Nordic and German, when they have presented difficulties. The provisioning section for the markets increases by 1.580.000 euros to add an item of 7.990.000 euros.
In this way, the entire investment chapter for fiscal year 2024 has a provision of 15.497.372,73 euros, which represents an increase of 42,09% compared to the previous year (10.907.037,73 euros). The allocation for foreign promotion increases from 6,4 million euros to 7.990.000 euros, with the aim of increasing the presence of the Gran Canaria brand in the main markets and, with special emphasis on emerging ones such as France, Italy, Belgium, Ireland or Netherlands. “We are going to make a significant budgetary effort for fiscal year 2024, since we increase in each and every one of the issuing markets with which we work,” added Álamo.
Regarding collaboration with the tourist municipalities, he pointed out that, “we are going to continue promoting a greater flow of tourists through the island, convinced that Gran Canaria has tourist attractions in the 21 municipalities. In addition, it will be accompanied by a strategy that promotes a sustainable growth model, seeking value not only for tourists but also for the natural and cultural environment, for the development of companies and that benefits a greater number of economies in Gran Canaria and “grancanarias”.
Among the current transfers, the island's tourist information offices will continue to be subsidized, including the office of the municipality of Santa Brígida. Likewise, support continues for city councils that celebrate festivals or events of marked tourist interest, such as: International Folklore Festival, Almond Blossom Festival, Las Nieves, El Charco, El Rosario, Apple Festival and Santa's Festival. Lucía, along with the Carnival events in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Mogán.
