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April Tourist Arrivals Rise By 57%

Friday May 13, 2011

April Tourist Arrivals Rise By 57%

A combination of the recent crisis in the Middle East and the Easter break resulted in a 57.43% rise in foreign tourism last month. According to the latest figures just released by AENA. As a total of 159,693 foreign tourists enjoyed a holiday in Lanzarote. Whilst the Canary Islands as a whole enjoyed their best April ever for tourist arrivals.

The number of foreign tourists touching down at Arrecife airport rose by a whopping 57.44% last month according to t he latest figures just released by the Spanish airport authority AENA. With arrivals soaring from 101,434 passengers in April 2010 to 159,693 passengers last month. A rise that can be attributed to a number of factors, including the Icelandic ash cloud crisis which caused travel chaos last April and the much earlier Easter holidays in 2010.

Overall the Canary Islands also enjoyed its best April for tourist arrivals on record. With a total of 936,635 foreign visitors arriving on one of the islands during last month, a rise of 63.58% in comparison with figures compiled last year. This amounts to a total of 364,059 more tourists travelling to the archipelago this April.

According to statistics compiled by the Government of the Canary Islands, six countries exceeded the number of visitors coming to the islands by more than 100% when compared with figures for the same month in 2010. For instance, during April, the number of Norwegians arriving was 183.19% higher, whilst visitors from Italy grew by 180.53%, from Poland by 165.13%, from France by 142.38%, from Denmark by 138.77% and from Sweden by 131.06%. Whilst the more traditional tourist market s of the UK and Germany also saw substantial increases in visitor numbers of 49.81% and 48.72% respectively.

The Vice Councillor for Tourism, Ricardo Fernandez de la Fuente also appeared confident that the islands would enjoy a busy summer, with an additional million airline seats available between April and October in comparison with last years summer season.

Tenerife remains the most popular of the Canary Islands recording 352,388 visitors last month. Followed by Gran Canaria with 264,504 arrivals. With Fuerteventura recording the largest increase in tourist visitors up by 78.40% to 168,381 arrivals. Lanzarote remains in fourth place with 159,693 foreign tourists arriving.

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