Illegal letting inspectors now posing as Turismo quality researchers

[fifi]

Bingo Woe10.

With 56 years of history to draw upon, before the airport or any roads. We must consider the Canarian people's very recent history in order to try and understand anything they do. And in doing so we must also consider the dictator Franco in Spain up until 1975.

They do not have and never will have the mindset which may appear reasonable in the English speaking world.

50 years ago they were opportunists living, barely, on a scrap of volcanic land. They survived how they must. They greeted the English and German tourists arriving at that time warmly and were generally excited at the prospect of learning and bettering themselves and their islands. They were broadly an accommodating and warm people.

However. And there is always a but.

In more recent years Spain is nearly bankrupt. 45% unemployment. Failing house prices. And all the time Britain is booming and the prime parts of their beloved islands are owned by Brits and Germans.

The hoteliers are corrupt. The government is corrupt. And the general population have a strong history of corruption, blackmail and dictatorial rule. No common sense can prevail under such circumstances. Just whoever bribes the most. Or has the biggest muscle. The large hotel chains.

However. Again a but. This is not the most worrisome consideration. In enforcing these clearly idiotic laws, they are certainly not idiots. Therefore we must try and guess at the possible motivations. And they are likely:
- to make a fast buck. 7,000 - 10,000 30.000â,¬ fines makes for a quick fix to their annual budget

- hotel corruption as already noted. And politicians are well aware they are not in power for long. They must make their 500.000â,¬ or 1.000.000â,¬ nest egg from somewhere while they can

- arrogance. The people are blindly arrogant. It isn't sufficient to say they are overly optimistic. They entertain other viewpoints and ideas seldom

- lastly and most worryingly. If anyone takes the time to "infiltrate" the Canarian people themselves. Listening. Un observed. At functions preferably where alcohol is consumed in reasonable amounts. It would amaze you what they honestly and really feel and think about the Brits / Germans / any foreign input into their island. And what they fully expect to be done about it

- the last point is amplified further by the youth. 70% unemployment. Who are filled with wild aspirations from the recent influences of American TV, news and the Internet. They expect everything for little to no work. Not unusual in the youth of the world. Only they have no where to take from other than their isolated habitation on a small island which is not prosperous or capable of meeting their expectations. Problem


In short. Finally..... And apologies for ranting and raving. Fuerteventura will never be a 5* hotel island. The existing 2 supposedly 5* hotels are such poor offerings in comparison to pretty much any other EU or worldwide destination - that they will all fail.

Fuerteventura is just too barren. Too windy. And with too little support to ever be 5*. And long may it continue!

That's not to say that in enforcing these laws for a period of a few years. They might not get back much of the prime real estate they are after. Presently in foreigners hands. Then they'll just change the laws again........ Which was likely their intention all along. Caveat emptor to anyone caught up in the whole mess!

You are a great writer Tropical Fish. I have been absent from the Forum for quite a while so didnt notice that you were a new member so welcome and I am looking forward to reading some more posts from you.

[erik_tonny]

Basically, after 20 years on the Island, I have learned that the people who run this place don't have a clue what they're doing.

They're are just a joke, with Rose Tinted glasses on.  When was the last time you saw anybody from the Tourist Board in Hemingways, Flower Of Scotland, Step Inn, Bar 4, etc .. etc .. They just don't know anything about the Tourists that come here, or the term "Brits Abroad".

Seems they know very well what they are doing.
Staying away from british bars is very sensible

[woe10]

The point is erik-tonny, they don't even know they're there 

[PHo]

We all know they are there. You have to know where they are in order to avoid them.

[Ivemovedon]

Whats wrong with British bars then. You get good and bad. I've been to quite a few Spanish bars (and restaurants come to that) that are rubbish. Miserable owners and poor quality food and drink. Whats different to British ones?.

[PHo]

I just prefer Spanish bars and restaurants when in Spain; if they are rubbish I don't go back.  Mind you, I like Chinese and Indian restaurants when in the UK but not in Fue, so there is no logic in my thinking.

[TropicalFish]

Returning to the core subject matter at hand.

I see a lot of straight talking on these forums from hard working people with much accumulated life experiences. Speaking straight from the heart to improve the island and protect what each has worked so hard to obtain. Be that a home, a business or a place to holiday to.

However, what is really needed seems to be somewhat elusive. It is not one lifetime ago we fought the injustice being done across Europe. And fight we did. Now we seem more content to debate rather than steer a reasoned course of action.

I'm not advocated reaching for a sabre or anything so theatrical in nature. However surely one or two amongst you, there are enough who clearly have the accoutrements to do so, could take the charge.

What is really required is to identify a Canarian ambassador to your cause. Someone born and bred who loves their island. Retired or with a lengthy term living in and around the people. An individual who is respected and to whom people may listen. Meet with them and explain your and their plight which they may likely be oblivious to.

They could then take opportunity of the 36 or so public holidays and fiestas in the Canaries and speak to the many Canarians gathered there. Just for 5 minutes. As many are unaware of the issues at hand and their likely ramifications.

It would not take long to effect a change for the good, one could imagine. Or if not, at least an attempt was made.

Unfortunately I'm too long in the tooth, but there are those of you with fire in your bellies yet.  certa bonum certamen

[SheilaW]

I just prefer Spanish bars and restaurants when in Spain; if they are rubbish I don't go back.  Mind you, I like Chinese and Indian restaurants when in the UK but not in Fue, so there is no logic in my thinking.

It's odd for Brits living in the UK to want to go to a British place during their one-week holiday in Spain. I'm sure I'd feel the same way. But it isn't odd to have British places here along with Italian, Indian, Chinese, Danish, Brazilian, etc as well as Spanish. Although I don't think there are any fewer Brits holidaying here today, they are becoming a smaller percentage of the tourist population. To many Scandinavians, Eastern Europeans, Central Europeans etc it's quite a novelty to go to a British place. And then there are the residents: in La Oliva there are 47 nationalities recorded!

Why can't we have decent-quality 4* accommodation? A bit of AI if people really want it, but mainly loads of aparthotels as they seem to suit most people best. And those lovely little places where there are a dozen or so bungalows round a communal pool - they're really nice but they aren't 5* (I don't know where they fit in, actually). Anyway, if they want to attract 5* tourists, they ought to be encouraging people to let out their villas: people with that much money often want their own custom places, with a bit of privacy, not a hotel with a load of starchy staff.

The council seem intent on putting all the local businesses out of business at the moment. The harassment about noise etc is just crazy. Why did people buy properties along the strip in Corralejo if they wanted silence by 10pm? It's a tourist resort, not an OAP care home ! Maybe once all the businesses have gone, and all the residents who depended on them, the council will get their way and rebuild everything. But there won't be any atmosphere left, not in Corralejo anyway - the old Corralejo will have gone along with its bars and restaurants. The only places that will thrive then will be AI hotels for those that just want cosseting, pampering and tanning. How very sad .

[erik_tonny]

Tropicalfish, if you don't like it here or approve of the way the majoreros want to run their own island, you are free to leave.

[Ivemovedon]

You ain't been reading the thread. General consensus of opinion is they don't possess the management skills required to run a economically thriving multi- national island.

[fifi]

ASCAV website..... https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ascav.es%2F&edit-text=&act=url

You can become a member of the Association for just â,¬5 per month and be able to read exactly what is going on....or just keep an eye on the website for updates.