| Spain as a holiday destination enjoyed a good | | | | Christmas and New Year holidays. With both |
| 2007 with her islands like Menorca and Majorca | | | | Lanzarote and Tenerife enjoying temperatures in |
| doing well too - but all is not well in the Canary | | | | the 70's, some fifteen degrees warmer than |
| Islands it would appear from recently announced | | | | Majorca and the Costa del Sol - both islands stand |
| official tourist numbers. | | | | to make a good start for 2008. |
| The Spanish tourism government department has | | | | Tenerife is known in the UK for her fabulous |
| confirmed that the Canary Islands were the only | | | | winter weather and attracts nearly three and a |
| region of Spain to see a drop in tourist numbers | | | | half millions tourists a year to its scenic 2,034 |
| in 2007. | | | | square kilometers. While most of Tenerife's |
| While Spain overall enjoyed a near 2 per cent | | | | tourism comes from the United Kingdom, others |
| boost in visitor numbers, the Canary Islands had | | | | visit from Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, |
| nearly quarter a million fewer tourists compared | | | | Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Italy and |
| to 2006. While not disputing the figures, one | | | | France. The island is home to many beautiful |
| tourism boss on Gran Canaria claims that the | | | | resorts, including the Playas de las Americas and |
| autumn holiday period could have seen an increase | | | | Los Cristianos. In fact, recent legislation was |
| in 2007 compared to 2006. | | | | passed to ensure that any future resort |
| Different regions of Spain are trying to stand out | | | | construction must either be of five-star status or |
| to tourists by being unique. Data recently released | | | | offer resort luxuries like golf courses or banquet |
| from the Costa del Sol Tourism Observatory | | | | facilities. |
| indicates that tourist spending over the past year | | | | Tenerife's Costa Adeje, the area that includes Las |
| increased by a notable 6 per cent, showing that | | | | Americas and Los Cristianos, offers visitors |
| the hospitality industry in the Costa del Sol is | | | | opportunities for both recreation and sightseeing. |
| thriving. The Costa del Sol hopes to keep its | | | | Outstanding shopping, 9 golf courses, fine dining, |
| tourist trade alive and well and spur the tradition | | | | water parks, zoos, and a magnificent theatre that |
| of competition with its well known neighbour the | | | | often features great musicals and of course the |
| Costa Blanca by creating a national symbol that | | | | natural beauty of sun and sand on Tenerife's |
| will become synonymous with the region; much | | | | gorgeous beaches are all attractions that attract |
| like the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, Big Ben in London | | | | the British holiday maker. |
| or the Statue of Liberty is to New York. | | | | Meanwhile Lanzarote, the fourth largest of the |
| Currently tourist officials are leaning toward the | | | | Canary Islands, is hoping for a boost in 2008 too. |
| idea of a similar edifice and is in the process of | | | | Lanzarote is quieter than Tenerife, and tends to |
| inviting bids and design plans from several | | | | attract holiday makers who stay in villas, but |
| multinational companies. It appears that the Costa | | | | there are a good number of hotels too. |
| del Sol may be looking for an attraction that will | | | | Lanzarote is well known for its picturesque |
| give it a permanent edge over the Costa Blanca | | | | volcanic landscapes. It is perhaps also just as well |
| when it comes to tourist numbers. | | | | known for its futuristic appearance and controlled |
| But the Canaries have an advantage over | | | | development of wildlife and plant life. |
| mainland Spain, and for that matter her | | | | Lanzarote is home to more than 100,000 people |
| competitor Spanish islands of Menorca and | | | | and has its own international airport. The island |
| Majorca - and that's the weather. | | | | relies on tourism as well as agriculture to maintain |
| 2008 could see a real turnaround for the Canary | | | | its economy. Millions of visitors each year enjoy |
| Islands as her biggest market - the UK - has seen | | | | the black sand beaches and unique experience |
| record numbers of tourists fly abroad for the | | | | that only Lanzarote can offer. |