The bankruptcy of Thomas Cook and the closures of Ryanair threaten tourism in the Canary islands

UGT urged to avoid the total closure of Thomas Cook in CanariasLos winners and losers of the bankruptcy of Thomas CookLa bankruptcy of Thomas Cook only affects

The bankruptcy of Thomas Cook and the closures of Ryanair threaten tourism in the Canary islands
UGT urged to avoid the total closure of Thomas Cook in CanariasLos winners and losers of the bankruptcy of Thomas CookLa bankruptcy of Thomas Cook only affects the cruise in Galicia

The tourist sector of the Canaries shakes before the consencuencias that will result in the high season, which begins now, in the months of October and November, the recent bankruptcy of the british tour operator Thomas Cook and the more than likely closing of bases of Ryanair in the island. If we take into account the figures of other years and the forecasts of the various agencies to the impact on tourism short-term in the region can be dramatic. In 2018 reached a total of 3.45 million tourists to the region thanks to Thomas Cook, according to the employers ' tourist, while UGT estimated last Monday that would be affected 12,000 jobs, 10% of the total accommodation. In addition, the union estimates that the hotel occupancy, which depended on the tour operator could drop 25% in these months.

Logically, the largest decline would come for part of the british, who account for almost 40% of foreign nationals who come to the archipelago. Although keep in mind that Thomas Cook have airlines in other countries that, for the moment, they are operating, such as Condor, is not ruled out that these end up shutting down if no measures are taken to avoid it, so that the arrival of tourists from other countries in northern Europe could also be diminished.

To this we add the more that can close the next 8 of January of the bases in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife which has Ryanair on the island, where it carried 3.7 million passengers in 2018. The Brexit and a pound anything stable with the problems british are the main reasons for the aerolína irish. And all just in the beginning of the high season, which last year was the arrival of more than 7.3 million international tourists . What is more likely is that this figure be reduced and will contribute more still to the decrease of tourists that the island is experiencing this 2019. The region is the only one of the main destinations of Spain than in the year-to-go decrease in the presence of tourists, a 3,52%.

The dark clouds that arrive in the short term is causing the tourism sector to mobilize to minimize the impact. In statements to ABC, the executive vice president of the lobby tourist Exceltur, José Luis Zoreda, explained that "the important thing is to ensure air connectivity" , as both the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook as the cessation of operations of Ryanair in the islands "is a hard blow to the ability of air connectivity".

Believes that in order to get a replacement in the air capacity to the Canary islands in a short space of time is necessary Aena act "by reducing the rates of the aeropuertos canarios between 40% and 50% for other airlines could start flights to a replacement to the island." He says that the manager airport should have a gesture of "solidarity by reducing the costs of operating in the Canary islands, when he distributed the past year, 1,000 million of dividends from the tourism sector".

this request binds the employers of the hotel, Cepyme, also asked in a statement signed by its president, Juan Molas, the Government feels to negotiate with Ryanair to prevent his departure from the island. Argues that the current situation "may be a chance of understanding important for both destinations".

inter-ministerial Commission

the reduction of The airport fees was one of the topics that are put on the table in the meeting the minister of Tourism, Reyes Maroto, with the directors of the affected regions (Canary islands, Balearic islands, Andalusia, Valencia and Catalonia) and the representatives of the sector. It took note of the communities ' petitions to the inter-ministerial commission which is to meet in the next few days. The councilor of Tourism of the Canary islands, Yaiza Castilla explained that the commission will "assess the exemption of air fares" for trips to the archipelago and the implementation of a development plan to introduce additional flights to the islands. In total, in Spain there are up to 53,000 tourists trapped of the 600,000 spread across the globe.

For its part, sources close to the meeting told ABC that the minister Maroto asked the hotels not to do as in Tunisia , where hoteliers have retained to tourists in their facilities until they pay the bill that Thomas Cook has not paid, and to leave the premises. A request that the minister slipped as act of good faith to ensure that the inter-ministerial commission will pass the greater part of the requests of the sector.

Date Of Update: 25 September 2019, 04:03