Spain’s Canary Islands expecting partial recovery of tourism next year

Published on : Thursday, December 3, 2020

Authorities on Spain’s Canary Islands are anticipating a partial recovery of the archipelago’s tourism industry next year with arrival of vaccines and lifting of travel restrictions; however, business will still be far below pre-pandemic levels.

The islands’ regional government expects that the number of incoming tourists to drop to 5 million this year, down from 15 million in 2019, before going up to 8 million in 2021, said regional tourism chief Yaiza Castilla.

“We hope in the future we will be able to raise the forecast month after month,” Castilla said.

Battered by travel restrictions, the heavily tourism-dependent archipelago has laid down rules for restricting outsiders from bringing in infection and to encourage visitors that traveling is safe.

Located around 60 miles off Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Canary Islands, the chain of seven islands is popular among sun-seeking northern Europeans, especially during the winter season, when half its tourism revenues are generated.