Selling Spain, the Canaries and Balearics

Winter sun hopes

Prestige Holidays’ new Canaries 2020/21 winter sun brochure includes tailor-made breaks to Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Gomera, La Palma and Fuerteventura and offers flexibility for clients to move dates and destinations around without penalty if it’s not safe to travel.

David Skillicorn, commercial director at Prestige, explains why he believes the islands will be popular for winter sun-seekers post- lockdown.

“The Canary Islands are one of the favourite winter sun destinations for Brits and I can see travellers returning to them again as soon as it’s safe to do so. In times of uncertainty, people are more likely to return to places they are familiar with. The islands have had comparatively low infection rates, which adds to their appeal”.

The Canaries are currently trialling Global Tourism Safety Lab initiatives to protect visitors and Skillicorn praises the islands for their commitment to ensuring travellers can visit safely.

“They are looking to implement protocols that embrace social distancing for everything from hotels to restaurants and museums, so they can offer the reassurance of safety as well as the usual sun, sand and sea,” he explains.

New Prestige product includes the Royal River & Spa Luxury Hotel in Costa Adeje on Tenerife. In addition to 29 suites, it features 21 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas with private pools. “The villas will no doubt have strong appeal this winter when travellers want to keep their distance from other holidaymakers,” says Skillicorn.

While he predicts the British favourites of Lanzarote and Tenerife will remain popular with Brits post-coronavirus, he also foresees an increase in bookings for more off-the-beaten track Canary Islands.

“The signs are that a new generation of tourist looking to holiday in splendidly isolated destinations might consider La Gomera and La Palma,” he says.

The lack of tourism on the islands in the past few months has allowed nature to flourish there. Clients that return to the Canaries early will find pristine landscapes, clean beaches and can enjoy nature-filled experiences.

Gran Canaria has added a section to the professional area on its website featuring images taken of the natural landscape during lockdown, which agents can access and use as a handy selling tool.

Out in the elements

While some clients might be craving a fly-and-flop Spanish break, others might prefer a trip that allows them to stretch their legs and tick something off their bucket list after being cooped up indoors for months due to lockdown.

CaminoWays.com has seen a steady flow of enquiries in recent weeks as confidence in the return of travel to Spain grows.

“After the massive drop in mid-March, we are returning to around 60-70% of normal traffic levels on our website,” says the operator’s marketing manager Sarah Grogan, adding that the 1 July reopening announcement from Spain, the Balearics and Canaries has led to an increase in enquiries about its Camino de Santiago and other walking holiday packages.

Since many of the trips are self-guided, clients can walk the routes without requiring much contact with others, enabling them to adhere to social distancing rules.

The operator is currently making a series of changes to ensure its travellers’ safety post- coronavirus, including liaising with tour guides to implement social distancing and reviewing all hotels and properties so they comply with the new Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian governments.

The operator has also created a “Frequently Asked Questions” section on its website for clients and agents, and is sending out a newsletter this month to reassure customers who have plans to travel later this year.

Balearic boost

Iago Negueruela, minister of tourism for the Balearic Islands, says the islands have seen a recent rise in enquiries and bookings.

“Since Spain’s prime minister announced our country will reopen its borders to international tourists from July and encouraged travellers to start planning their holidays to Spain, we have seen a spike in bookings for travel to the Balearic Islands from all our largest inbound markets, including the UK.”

The Balearics have now accelerated their coronavirus de-escalation plan and have moved to phase three, which means bars and restaurants can now operate indoor areas at 75% capacity (vs 50% in the Spanish peninsula) and tourism accommodation can open at 60% capacity (vs 50% on the mainland.)

Negueruela says the Balearics is working closely with trade partners to ensure the safety of travellers. “The safety and health of tourists is the top priority for the Balearic Islands. We are working with all key stakeholders including tour operators, travel agencies and the hotel industry in the destination to ensure the safe arrival and stay of tourists when the crisis passes.

“In recent weeks, we have jointly developed safety and hygiene protocols together with the Institute for Tourist Quality in Spain to guarantee the safety of all visitors and also the employers of the travel industry.”