The number of foreign tourists taking their holidays in Lanzarote rose by 23.6% last month versus February 2010 figures, according to the latest data just released by ISTAC, the Canarian Institute of Statistics. As the island welcomed an influx of additional visitors as a result of the recent crisis in the Middle East. With German visitor numbers up by a whopping 65.5%.

The latest arrivals figures just released by ISTAC reveal that Lanzarote welcomed a total of 170,141 tourists last month. Up by 15.1% versus February 2010. With foreign tourist arrivals totaling 151,860 visitors. An increase of 23.6 % for the same period.

The figures build on positive results for January when foreign tourism climbed by 6.32%. With the upsurge in arrivals partly attributable to holidaymakers from countries such as Germany being forced to choose alternative destinations to sun spots in the Middle East, such as Egypt and Tunisia.

By far the biggest increase was recorded in the German market, Lanzarote´s second largest. Where the number of visitors arriving on flights to Lanzarote soared by 65.5%, to 32,615 passengers. Up from 19,438 arrivals in February 2010. Whilst the number of British tourists touching down at Arrecife airport rose by 9.2%, with a total of 66,872 visitors from the UK.

Visitor numbers from Ireland, Lanzarote´s third largest market, fell back by 4.7% however as the impact of the economic crisis there continued to impact negatively on consumer spending. Whilst the number of tourists visiting Lanzarote from the Spanish mainland declined for the second consecutive month, falling by 26.8% to 18,281 arrivals.