The NGOs, mostly Catholic, and the activist-driven Las Palmas press, continue to call the journey by illegal boat between West Africa and the islands the 'Canarian route' when it is the Atlantic route. However, this name can have negative repercussions for the tourist image of the Canary Islands' economic capital. Associating the name of the islands with one of the deadliest migration routes in the world can influence the perception of security and tranquillity that tourists seek when choosing their holiday destination. It is not called the Canary route: it is an invention to generate tension in the tourism business that the NGOs and the Las Palmas media hate. What do the Mallorcan media call the journey by boat when leaving Algeria for Palma? The Mediterranean route.
Tourism is one of the main sources of income for the Canary Islands, and any negative connotation can affect the decision of potential visitors. The association of the term Ruta Canaria with human tragedies and shipwrecks, such as the recent incident in which at least 50 people lost their lives, supposedly because there is no official confirmation, can generate an unfavorable image of the destination in the south of Gran Canaria. It is crucial that terms that may discourage tourists are avoided, as tourism is vital for the local economy.
It is essential to find a balance in the media narrative that allows the migration crisis to be made visible without harming the tourism sector. Using terminology that does not directly link the name of the islands with tragic situations could help maintain the reputation of the Canary Islands as a safe and attractive destination, while addressing the complex migration reality appropriately. Using the term "Atlantic route" instead of "Canary Route" could be a viable solution to avoid the negative impact on tourism.
In comparison, those who arrive in the Peninsula or the Balearic Islands do so via the "Mediterranean route", which avoids damaging the perception of these regions as tourist destinations. Considering that tourism is a crucial industry for the Canarian economy, it is necessary to take measures to protect the image of the archipelago. In addition, it is important that the authorities in the south of Gran Canaria and the media in that region collaborate to promote a narrative that, without hiding the serious migration crisis, does not negatively affect a sector as vital as tourism.
