Canary Islands Jan/June 2020.
The numbers from the Canary Islands tourism for the first half of 2020 are in, and they are not pretty reading. As we are in a COVID-19 world, it should not be too much of a surprise.
Some things to consider. Spain asked all hotels to close on the 19th of March. Spain reopened its borders on the 21st of June.
Canary Islands Jan/June 2020. The year started strong. 2,207,046 visitors stayed in the Islands Hotels/Apartments in January and February. That was up 2.7% v Jan/Feb 2019.
By the end of March that positive number had changed to 20% fewer people in the islands Hotels/Apartments for the first three months v Jan/Feb/Mar in 2019.
Canary Islands Jan/June 2020.
During the first six months of 2020, 2,499,069 people stayed in the Canary Islands Hotels/Apartments. That was down 58% in the same period in 2019.
Canary Islands Jan/Jun 2020 visitors staying in accommodation by island.
Tenerife 926,266 guests. Down 59% v Jan/Jun in 2019.
Gran Canaria 723,588 guests. Down 55% v Jan/Jun in 2019.
Lanzarote 429,518 guests. Down 64% v Jan/Jun in 2019.
Fuerteventura 337,530 guests. Down 59% v Jan/Jun in 2019.
La Palma 41,760 guests. Down 56% v Jan/Jun in 2019.
La Gomera 27,902 guests. Down 50% v Jan/Jun in 2019.
El Hierro ,2,267 guests. Down 30% v Jan/Jun in 2019.
We are now in the second half of 2020. The borders have reopened, but COVID-19 remains an issue. Some countries are seeing new outbreaks. The outlook for the Canary Islands for the rest of 2020 is unclear. The Islands may do well to keep the decline under 50% for the year. Time will tell.
Its not all about the tourists
If you have not been able to enjoy your holiday to a Canary Islands, spare a thought for the locals. The June employment report for people working in tourist accommodation is grim.
In June 2019 63,650 people were working in tourist accommodation on the Canary Islands. In June 2020 it was 1,847. Down 97% year on year.
Accommodation employment by island.
Tenerife. June 2019− 23,237. June 2020− 295 people down 99%.
Gran Canaria. June 2019− 16,989. June 2020− 893 people down 95%.
Lanzarote. June 2019− 10,092. June 2020− 57 people down 95%.
Fuerteventura. June 2019− 9,253. June 2020− 481 people down 95%.
La Palma. June 2019− 1,108. June 2020− 32 people down 97%.
La Gomera. June 2019− 842. June 2020− 76 people down 95%.
El Hierro. June 2019− 103. June 2020− 13 people down 87%.
The Canary Islands fightback to regain its tourist market will not be easy in 2020. Hopefully, the tide will turn, and tourists will return in the second half of 2020. That will also help the employment situation on the islands.
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