Lanzarote Living

Tourist arrivals continue to fall on Lanzarote. According to the latest data just released by the Spanish Airport operators AENA.  Which reveals that the number of holidaymakers visiting the island fell again last month.  Down by 24.45% versus June 2008.  With the British market once again at the forefront of the negative curve.

The latest AENA figures show that just over 30,000 fewer foreign tourists visited the island last month.  Down from 123,993 visitors in June 2008 to 93,676 guests.  Whilst overall, the island has suffered an 18% plus decline in foreign tourist arrivals for the year to date.

The British market – Lanzarote´s largest – is the worst affected.  Thanks to the fact that the depreciation of sterling against the euro, allied with the impact of the credit crunch, is discouraging consumer spending on holidays in Lanzarote and the wider euro zone.  As people opt instead for a stay-cation at home or a break elsewhere.

Last month, British tourist numbers fell by nearly 27%.  Whilst for the year to date they have now fallen by 20.1%.

But it’s not just the British market which is suffering.  As negative figures have been reported by AENA across all other markets.  Germany, Lanzarote´s second largest source of tourists, sent 16% fewer visitors last month.  Whilst for the year to date visitor number have now fallen by 13.24%.  Whilst Eire – the island´s third largest source of tourist arrivals has fared little better.  With arrivals for June down by over 24% and for the year to date by 16.65%.

All of which makes fairly grim reading for all sectors of the island economy.  As Lanzarote is heavily dependent on tourism.

The accommodation sector is already suffering – as the owners of Lanzarote villas and apartments watch their occupancy levels plummet.  Whilst hoteliers group ASOLAN last month reported a record drop in occupancy levels in hotels in Lanzarote as the number of beds filled plummeted to just 49.1% in May.  The lowest figure ever recorded in over forty years of island tourism.

The island leading tourist attractions – such as the Jameos del Agua and the Green Caves - are also recording sharp falls in the number of admissions

Overall the island has now lost 148,604 tourists versus the same six month period in 2008. All of which adds up to a multi million euro hole in the finances of local businesses.  As each visitor is reported to spend an average of €36 per day – and stays for an average of seven days.