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Monday, May 12, 2008
Brits becoming tired of tired old Tenerife?
At the XI International Tourism Forum, celebrated on May 9th at the luxurious Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque, in Costa Adeje, experts are reported to have said that renovation is fundamental for Tenerife's fate and that the sector can overcome the current crisis through the generation of new products.
There was general agreement amongst attendees, apparently, that as a destination, Tenerife has become somewhat obsolete and renovation would create a better image in both the national and international markets. Currently, 25% of the island's accommodation is more than 25 years old and, it's proposed to spend 840 million euros (around £675 million) on bringing it up-to-date.
Although, Joan Molas, President of the Spanish Federation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation, has said that it was all very well renewing the hotels, but that it was also necessary to improve what he calls the "third division connections" that Tenerife has, referring to airlines and routes that serve the island.
That same article reports that UK visitors this summer look to be "following a stable line, in relation to previous years," 1.9% up on forecast.
Meanwhile, in another report from the forum they're saying that Tenerife should promote itself in the Nordic market, after wearing it's image out in the United Kingdom and point to the "frankly difficult" economic situation in the UK.
There's almost an inference in there that we Brits will be considered too cheap and poor for the "new and improved" Tenerife. (They may have a point.)
Quoting Ignacio Vasallo, the Director of the Spanish Tourist Office (OET) in London, explains, "Tenerife is the top tourist destination for British tourists, with almost as many visitors annually as the whole of Italy; it's a love story, but it also produces fatigue, so there are motives to be preoccupied."
What he is saying, makes it clear that Tenerife still wants British business, but he realizes that the island needs to smarten up and also to hedge its bets against the risk of this tiredness setting in, in epidemic proportions.
Tenerife hasn't had a crisis in the Nordic market, yet, although it needs to take care, because deficiencies do not go unnoticed. For instance, as Susanne of the Scandinavian Country & Western band, who play in Los Cristianos, points out on her blog, tourists complain or feel cheated when bars serve cheap, immitation spirits in place of well-known brands in an effort to make more profits.
Others are, rightly, saying that the Government, the Island Corporation and Town Halls, etc., as well as the hoteliers, need to be involved. I'd agree, it's a complicated issue in which attitudes, as well as images, need to change.
Photo: leemcarthur
3 Comments:
Jose Frechín wrote (on
May 12, 2008)
Evidentemente se necesita hacer una renovación, pero también en la mentalidad hacia los contenidos. Y sobre todo no pensar en los blogs como una amenaza sino una oportunidad.
Pamela Heywood wrote (on
May 12, 2008)
Yes, Missy and I don't think you are merely the exception that proves the rule either. Lots of people still love the island, but there is a an element of tiredness in the British attitudes. Trendiness has given way to a "well, it's cheap and it's sunny" attitude, which isn't respectful and to get that back, Tenerife needs to respect itself.
Gomera: Yes, the fires are out. There are calls for more resources for firefighting too. I hope this time they've learned from it.
Jose, por suerte, no he tenido el problema de ser visto como una amenaza. Una pena tambien que los britanicos no aprenden mas sobre la isla para respetarla y ser respetadas.
One word, NO! I miss it so much and dying to get back to Los Gigantes. I honestly think that place will be my retirment home!
Hope you are ok and the situation on La Gomera is better