Passenger numbers ...........how the Islands compare.

[fifi]

La Provincia.es article translated online.

The Canary Islands received 910,989 passengers in November representing a decrease of 2.24% over the same month of 2011, ie 20,852 fewer passengers, according to data provided by Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (AENA).

Regarding the full year, the Canary Islands tourist destination was visited by 9,161,888 foreign passengers, representing 220,183 fewer passengers and a decrease of 2.35% over the same period last year.



The Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Canary Islands, Ricardo Fernandez de la Puente Armas, said that despite the decrease of 2.4%, the November figure is the fourth highest in the time series, ie of every month November from 1990 to 2012.

The island of Gran Canaria in November saw the arrival of 286,013 foreign passengers, which is 3.55% less than in November 2011, ie 10,517 fewer passengers. In the year leading Gran Canaria was visited by 2,556,120 foreign visitors, with a 1.90% compared to the same period of 2011, with 49,481 people less.

Fuerteventura last month was visited by 123,125 foreign passengers, representing a decrease of 12.17% compared to November 2011, with 17,063 fewer foreign passengers. From January to November, Fuerteventura was visited by 1,507,306 foreign passengers, with a drop of 9.58%, and  159,679 fewer passengers than in the same period of 2011.

Lanzarote received in November 138,236 foreign passengers, 4,779 more than in November 2011, representing an increase of 3.58%. In regards to the whole year, this island was visited by 1,554,714 passengers, representing a decrease of 1.56% over the same period of 2011 with 24,672 fewer passengers.

Tenerife, was in November 2012 visited by 351,862 foreign passengers, resulting in more than 3166 passengers in November last year, an increase of 0.91%. In the full year, Tenerife was visited by 3,433,532 foreign passengers, a decrease of 0.01% and 443 foreign passengers less than the same period of 2011.

The island of La Palma in November received 11,753 visits from foreign passengers, which means a decrease of 9.38% compared to November 2011 with 1,217 fewer passengers. Regarding the full year, La Palma received 110,216 foreign passengers, representing an increase of 14.66% over the same period last year, with 14,092 passengers.

[duncolm]

Looks like the British numbers have held up well, but the drop from Germany is comparatively huge. That must be a worry...

[fifi]

It must be allright Duncolm. I was surprised to see that Fuerteventura was faring out the worst with a drop of over 9% Jan/Nov

I blame the increase in flight prices.

[Can the Man]

Fifi, I think one of the main problems for attracting new visitors or repeat visitors, is that in Fuerte we are the least developed of the 4 main island for touristic appeal. Look at what the others offer with their theme parks, water parks, etc. plus everywhere you drive in Fuerte we see half finished developments, a bit off putting I feel.

Don't get me wrong, I love Fuerte, hense why I bought there and will eventually retire there, but I feel our island appeal is to those in the know or those that know what the true Fuerte is all about - I mean the day you visit there and fall in love with the island and keep coming back no matter what.

[fifi]

Yes possibly Can the Man,. Like you,  I find the Island appealing because it is so underdeveloped. The Island plan seems to be all about investing in the high end of the market  and also in Eco Tourism....a nice idea in theory....but will it bring the passengers? Not in the near future I am guessing. In the meantime the Island is losing business to the other Islands for some reason.

[fifi]

Laptops are great when you are in the bed sick.

Good news Can the man....they are trying to attract the Irish. (Fuerteventura Diario translated)

Irish Journalists walk Fuerteventura

Blas Acosta: "Business trips for media are  a cheap and  very effective promotional tool"
A group of Irish journalists have spent several days visiting Fuerteventura on a press trip. The goal is that once they have learned first-hand about tourism on the island, they will  transmit it through reports in their respective media.

The Irish media who participated are working for the  'Evening Herald', 'Sunday Independent', 'Irish Examiner', 'Irish Travel Trade' and 'The Star' newspapers.
Journalists sent by this group of Irish media have made ​​an extensive tour of the whole island. They  viewed Tiscamanita, Pajara, Oasis Park La Laijita, Morro Jable, Sports Center René Egli, Lajares, El Cotillo, La Oliva, Tindaya, Tefía, Puerto del Rosario and Antigua .   (It was partly sponsored by the Sheraton so I guess they stayed there and got a taste of Caleta also)


Last week the island had another group of journalists, this time French. The  program of activities included visits to  aloe vera plantations,  bread making  in a wood oven workshops, making cheese , tasting local produce, craft centers and Artisan centres on the island.

The French do love their food....no foodie trips for the Irish.

Watersports in Fuerteventura are the main attraction being promoted in Poland and 180 travel agents visited recently. There was a Facebook photo competition with a prize of a weeks holiday organised also. The theme was "I dream of the beaches of Fuerteventura".

Nice one.

[ashworth]

You dont need to sell Fuerteventura to the Irish.Lots of them have bought property here over the last 10 years and if it was not for the credit crunch and the devestation to the property prices in Ireland some down 60%. There would be tons more Irish buyers here. They love the climate the laid back way of life and it is so cheap cheap cheap to live....
 

[fifi]

Very true Ashworth and the SSIA's helped many to buy their properties.

[peejay]

Tourist number to Fuerte have been in decline since June. The island is consistently posting reduced tourist numbers compared to the other islands. Could be many reasons for this, flights have been cut from the UK and Spanish mainland, also prices have gone up considerably. I expect this trend to continue for the foreseeable future with further flight cuts from Easyjet for Summer 2013 and Iberia have not yet re-started their flights.

[waggy]

Yes possibly Can the Man,. Like you,  I find the Island appealing because it is so underdeveloped. The Island plan seems to be all about investing in the high end of the market  and also in Eco Tourism....a nice idea in theory....but will it bring the passengers? Not in the near future I am guessing. In the meantime the Island is losing business to the other Islands for some reason.

The island WAS so undeveloped, Fifi. Because it's well on the way to being ruined in this respect is why we're looking elsewhere. Old El Cotillo was a charming, very pretty place. It has now been irrevocably blighted by brutish, out of character, mass tourism, monstrosity developments.
The drive North from the airport, into Rosario, is like something from Planet of the Apes. Every time we pass those empty appt blocks I fully expect to spot Peter Ustinov and his cats. Corrallejo is the same.
It's a terrible shame; they've killed the Golden Goose.

[Ronnietheblue]

Been visiting Fuerte for 30 years or more, and have seen it develop massively, caleta in my opinion is a vast improvement and has largely been tastefully done. Corralejo, where we usually stay however, is beginning to lose it's quaint rustic appeal, to downright shabbiness. as a first timer on your way to resort, the scenery dramatically changes and you are in awe at the dunes, but when you enter corralejo you are met with a very good impression of Beirut, and a advertising hoarding reading 'VISIT LANZAROTE'!!. I believe after all these months the main road has still only got as far as Di Napolis, scandalous, the taxi drivers must love it, having to detour all the time, upping your fares in the process. Night times are dead around town in comparison to what they used to be, which i blame on AI, but thats another story. We love and will continue to visit Corrie, but to be honest i can see why the first time visitor, now doesn't return. Don't want to appear negative, but someone needs a kick up the backside.