Tourist Numbers Fall 16% on Lanzarote in August

Despite the onset of the peak holiday season visitor numbers continued to fall on Lanzarote during August.  According to the latest figures just released by the Spanish airport operators AENA.  Which reveal that the number of tourists spending their summer holidays in Lanzarote fell by 16.68% last month versus August 2008.

Visitor numbers on the Canary Island of Lanzarote have indeed been falling throughout the year – in line with declines across the rest of Spain.  As the combined impact of the credit crunch and the depreciation of sterling against the euro combine to take their toll on the island’s all important tourist industry.

So far this year nearly 200,000 fewer foreign tourists have visited Lanzarote than during the same period in 2008.  A decline of just over 18%.  With the bulk of these missing arrivals accounted for by the UK – Lanzarote´s largest and most important market.

Last month alone the number of British arrivals fell by 18.17% – down to 55,063 from 67,920 visitors.  Whilst Germany, Lanzarote´s second largest market, registered a fall of 9% from 20,878 arrivals last August to 18,998 last month.  With Eire, the island’s third largest market down by 3.59%.

Inevitably declining tourist numbers are having an impact across all sectors of the island’s economy.  With many bars and restaurants struggling and hotels and apartment complexes reporting falling occupancy levels.  Whilst many overseas investors with property interests such as holiday villas in Lanzarote have also seen their bookings take a tumble.  Especially outside of the peak holiday periods such as half term.

Despite the declining numbers and the ongoing economic crisis confidence for the winter season is on the increase on the island.  As Lanzarote´s tourist industry has recently been warmed by the news of the addition of a raft of new services from Ryanair.  Who have switched their focus to Lanzarote and the Canaries this winter in order to take advantage of the tax breaks provided by AENA and the Spanish government.

Ryanair will be operating 16 new routes to and from Lanzarote this winter, commencing in late October. With the company anticipating that these new flights to Lanzarote will help to provide a significant boost for the island’s tourist industry and property market.  Whilst other low cost operators such as Jet2 and Aer Lingus have also announced an up-weighting of their services to the island across the coming winter months.