This was announced today by the Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jéssica de León, to the mayor of the Gran Canaria municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Marco Aurelio Pérez
The Maspalomas International Carnival in Gran Canaria, which will take place from March 18 to 30, attracts more than 400.000 visitors every year and reaches an average audience of 2,5 million spectators.
The Minister for Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jéssica de León, has signed the order declaring the Maspalomas International Carnival as a Festival of Tourist Interest in the Canary Islands, a distinction that recognises the promotional relevance of this event, which last year had an average audience of 2,5 million spectators and an attendance of 450.000 people during the days of the event. In this regard, the Minister has conveyed the regional Government's congratulations to the mayor of the municipality, Marco Aurelio Pérez.
De León points out that “the Maspalomas International Carnival meets the essential requirements for this distinction by constituting a manifestation of the archipelago's cultural heritage, as well as a tourist attraction that decisively contributes to shaping the tourist image of the Canary Islands and its promotion.”
The councillor emphasises that “Carnival is an inclusive event that also promotes community unity between residents and visitors and welcomes everyone, regardless of age, origin or social class. Its collective celebration reinforces the sense of community and belonging, uniting cultures and experiences.”
The regional government has considered, as specified by the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council in its application, that the Maspalomas International Carnival aims to pursue innovation in the tourist offer in the Canary Islands tourist destination, maintain competitiveness in the safe festive leisure offer, and promote multidisciplinary collaboration relationships, in the institutional and business tourism field, which increase the tourist promotion of Maspalomas Costa Canaria, Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands.
In this way, and following the request of the City Council and the approval of the General Directorate of Tourism Planning, Training and Promotion of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Ministry of Tourism and Employment has proceeded to grant this concession in compliance with the provisions of Decree 18/2008 of February 11, which creates and regulates the declaration of Festivals of Tourist Interest in the Canary Islands.
40 years of history
The Maspalomas International Carnival, which will take place this year from 18 to 30 March, was first celebrated in 1974 as the 'Winter Festival', and in 1980 it was renamed 'Carnival of Maspalomas' and since 2005 'International Carnival of Maspalomas'. It is an annual popular festival that has evolved in line with the development of our own Canarian history, marked by the local status as a tourist municipality.
Aimed at residents and visitors, it stages a programme of participatory events with the maximum cultural expression from the traditional Carnival celebration, an artistic offering full of daring avant-garde imagination in keeping with our times that is projected as a hallmark of identity for all the Canary Islands and the entire world as a festive, transgressive and fun carnival, says the City Council.
It also contributes to strengthening social cohesion, promoting tolerance with a strong local identity and international tourism projection.
