Admissions at Lanzarote´s main tourist centres rose last month for the first time since March. Whilst additional funding has just been announced for the project to extend and expand the harbour area in the Old Town of Puerto del Carmen. Catch up with all the latest news from around the island.
November Admissions Up At Tourst Centres
The number of people visiting Lanzarote´s main centres of tourism and culture rose for the first time last month since the busy Easter period in March. With admissions rising from 177,957 to 180,312 visitors.
Lanzarote´s six main centres of tourism and culture enjoyed their first rise in visitor numbers since March last month. Reversing the negative numbers recorded in October when admissions fell by 13.28%.
So far to date this year these attractions have welcomed 2.2 million guests – with the Timanfaya National Park still the islands star attraction with 727,424 visitors. Followed by the Jameos del Agua with 571,895 admissions. The Mirador del Rio (322,151) and the Cuevas de los Verdes (320,733) are close to a tie for third place. With the Jardin de Cactus lying in fourth position with 232,089 visitors. Followed by the Museum of International and Contemporary Art in the last slot with 28,221 guests.
Puerto del Carmen Harbour Expansion
The Canarian Government this week agreed to fund the harbour expansion project in Puerto del Carmen with a further €2,016,348. The original budget submitted for the redevelopment of the port was set at 11.5 million euros. Its main aim has been to lengthen the dock and provide two new arms. It also includes the construction of two new walkways, one of which will run through the interior of the port.
These improvements will amplify the water’s surface area within the harbour to 33,500 metres square from the existing 12,500 square metres. And will make access easier to the pontoons by deploying space that has previously been underused.
The fundamental objective of the project has been to increase both the land and the water areas the port covers to meet growing demand as well as improve the protection vessels have from the waves that come in to this tidal basin. It also intends to incorporate the edge of the coastline into the port area whilst maintaining the environmental integrity of the former fishing village as it abuts the port.
Parking spaces will also be extended, with the existing proposal aiming to increase the provision to 110 places, partially provided by redistributing the surface area that currently serves as a square, so that its dimensions are somewhat reduced. In order to maximise the space available the breakwater will also be shifted so that it is situated further into the sea.
The redevelopment of the old harbour has been particularly important to cope with the demand that tourism places on the area. At present, the harbour has insufficient space to provide the range of services and facilities required, with the result that it is putting the breaks on the development of a greater choice of activities.
Further expansion is also planned for Orzola and Playa Blanca in 2010, with a total budget expected to reach 53 million euros for the ongoing development of these three harbour areas.
Lanzarote Long Weekend
Lanzarote has been a popular destination for Madrileños over the last few days, with many of the capital’s residents taking flights to Lanzarote and choosing to spend the ‘Puente de la Constitución’ here. The ‘puente’ is the name given to the bridge that is usually formed by workers taking the middle day between Constitution Day on 6th December and 8th December which is the public holiday for the Immaculate Conception.
A total of 6,591 flights were recorded leaving and returning to Barajas airport in Madrid between 4th and 9th December. Other popular destinations within Spain were Fuerteventura, Ibiza and Gran Canaria whilst Istanbul, Rome and Antalya were favourite foreign destinations. More than a million passengers were expected to pass through the Madrid airport during the holiday weekend.
ASOLAN, the Association of Hoteliers and Apartment Complexes, reported on the figures released by AENA and is expecting to report a healthy rise in the number of visitors from mainland Spain staying in island accommodation over the long weekend.
Malvasia To Conquer Germany
Six Lanzarote bodegas will be launching an initiative to popularise Malvasia wine in Germany. Between 13th and 16th December the Lanzarote Chamber of Commerce, the Canarian Society for Economic Development and the Regulatory Council for Denominated Wines of Canarian Origin will be in Dusseldorf.
The aim of this visit is to raise the profile of the unique wines produced by Lanzarote, in particular emphasising the origins of this product, its peculiarities and the climate and environment of the island. The commercial objective will be to open up opportunities for the importation of the wines to Germany, as at present between only 10% and 12% of the wines produced in Lanzarote are sold abroad.
