UK Tourism Up 6% In Lanzarote

Holidays abroad appear to remain a necessity for British consumers – not just a luxury. As Spanish airport operators AENA have just released figures that reveal that British visitor numbers to Lanzarote have risen by 6% so far this year versus the same period in 2007. So confounding speculation that the current economic climate could spell the end for holidays in the sun. And making happy reading for thousands of overseas investors with apartments and holiday villas in Lanzarote.

According to the AENA figures a grand total of 708,506 British tourists have visited Lanzarote during the first ten months of this year. So cementing the UK´s position as the island’s most important market. With British tourists packing well over 50% of all flights to Lanzarote made by non-Spanish nationals.

To the end of October this year the Island of Fire has welcomed a total of 1,341,556 foreign visitors. Attracted by Lanzarote´s clement year round climate, great beaches and unique tourist attractions. A figure that is also up on 2007 – albeit only marginally by 1.1%.

Whilst the British lead the way consumers in other countries such as Ireland are also reluctant to relinquish their week in the sun. As visitor numbers from Eire have also risen during the first ten months of 2008 – with 186,759 tourists from the Republic touching down at Arrecife airport across this period. An increase of 1.39% versus the same period in 2007. Again confirming Lanzarote´s position as the most popular destination in the whole of Spain for Irish tourists.

Significant increases in visitor numbers have also been recorded in other markets – such as Scandinavia. Once a major source of guests for the island back in the 1970´s and 1980´s when tourism was first taking off. With Swedish visitor numbers up by 35.07% year on year, followed by Norway (up 19.6%) and Finland (up 14.33%).

The only negative note sounded by the release of AENA´s figures comes from Germany. Still Lanzarote´s second largest market, but showing serious signs of long term decline. As German tourists eschew Lanzarote in favour of newer, alternative destinations. With visitor numbers down 13.23% to a total of 226,088.

Island authorities are obviously anxious to reverse this negative trend and have embarked on a multi million euro marketing project designed to woo back these missing German guests. In the meantime however, British and Irish holidaymakers continue to plug the gaps.