Tenerife authorities have announced a simulated volcanic eruption for this Friday. It's unclear whose idea it is, because if this ever happens, the south of Gran Canaria will foot the bill, just like when Los Rodeos Airport went bankrupt and the Gran Canaria Island Council had to finance the Tenerife South-Reina Sofía airport. Imagine how the avocado sector in Mogán would be left.
What would happen if it materialized? News of an eruption on Mount Teide would spread like wildfire across international news feeds. In the early hours, the authorities' priority would be the safety of the population of Tenerife, but the echo would inevitably reach the rest of the archipelago. The National Geographic Institute (IGN) would confirm the eruption after recording a seismic swarm and anomalous gas emissions, phenomena that had already been detected in recent years. The Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response to Volcanic Risk in the Canary Islands (PEVOLCA) would be activated immediately, issuing statements to emphasize that the emergency is limited to Tenerife and that the other islands are not at direct risk.
In southern Gran Canaria, however, hotels are expected to receive the first cancellation calls from confused European tourists, who are unable to distinguish between islands. Volcanic ash could force the temporary closure of airports in Tenerife, diverting flights to Gran Canaria. The Gran Canaria Island Council and AENA are expected to coordinate the arrival of relocated planes, generating an unexpected surge in passengers in Gando.
Ferries between Tenerife and Gran Canaria would be suspended for safety reasons, reinforcing the perception of isolation on the neighboring island. While partial evacuations would be organized in Tenerife in areas near Mount Teide, the south of Gran Canaria (Maspalomas, Meloneras, Playa del Inglés) would become a destination for relocated tourists. The Federation of Hospitality and Tourism Entrepreneurs of Las Palmas (FEHT) would activate contingency protocols to meet demand.
Hotels would hang "full" signs, and improvised agreements would be made with tourist apartments and holiday homes to accommodate new arrivals. The Canary Islands government would insist on messages of calm: "The eruptive phenomenon affects Tenerife exclusively. The rest of the islands remain safe destinations," the PEVOLCA spokesperson stated at a press conference.
At the same time, the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (INVOLCAN) would remind everyone that Mount Teide's eruptions, which are basaltic in nature, are usually localized and do not pose an immediate risk to the rest of the archipelago. In southern Gran Canaria, the tourist narrative would shift toward opportunity: "Gran Canaria is open and safe." However, the pressure on infrastructure and services would be evident: overcrowded airports, overflowing taxis and buses, and long lines at supermarkets.
Immediate negative impact: Cancellations due to fear and confusion in source markets. Tourist arrivals diverted from Tenerife, with record hotel occupancy. Reputational risk: If official communication is unclear, the "entire Canary Islands erupting" effect could damage the destination's global image. Ultimately, the first 96 hours after a Mount Teide eruption would be a contest between the crisis in international perception and Gran Canaria's ability to become a tourist haven. The key lies in institutional coordination and the transparency of official messages, as already underlined in the reports from the IGN and the PEVOLCA2 scientific committee.
