CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT FIGURES IMPROVE IN CANARIES ISLANDS

The Canaries have recorded their best construction sector employment figures for six years, according to the Real Estate and Construction Industry Forum which was held in Guía de Isora in June. Following two years pegged at 9 % of GDP, the contribution of the construction industry to the economy of the Islands rose by half a point to 9.5 %, thanks to renovation, rehabilitation, conservation and maintenance works, said the event organisers. There are approximately 6000 firms in the sector in the Canaries, most of them microbusinesses, SMEs and sole traders. Construction provides direct employment for some 60,000 workers, with the distribution of jobs shared equally across the two provinces. In addition, it provides 150,000 indirect jobs, according to newspaper La Vanguardia.

La Vaca Azul

El Cotillo in Fuerteventura is an ideal spot for campers and should be underlined in red in any decent travel notebook if the aim is to spend a few hours trying wonderful sea food. Of the wide range of places available to eat, one stands out by tradition for its quality ingredients and friendly service.

La Vaca Azul is one of the top restaurants not just in Fuerteventura but also in the entire Canary Islands. Set in a stunning location looking out over the Atlantic and the old harbour at El Cotillo, here you will enjoy excellent fresh fish and seafood dishes, along with an extensive selection of soups, salads, meats, rice dishes and home-made desserts.

Requena, 9. El Cotillo - Fuerteventura. T. 928 538 685.

Canaries Set For Busy Summer

The Canaries anticipate a successful summer 2023, with visitor numbers close to pre-pandemic levels. In a year when inbound tourism figures are already bettering 2019, the year before the outbreak of Covid, the number of seats available on flights is up 12 %. The current economic context of rising prices is prompting Spanish tourists to look to the Islands, as reflected in holiday home bookings, with six of every ten bookings made by visitors from the Spanish mainland.

Sector reports indicate that average bookings already stand at 80%, with some variation depending on the island.

In Tenerife, eight of every ten holiday homes have already booked for the summer, compared to 79% in Gran Canaria and 77% in Fuerteventura.

At around 104 euros per night, the Canaries are the cheapest destination for accommodation and the situation has persuaded many tourists to choose to spend their holidays in the Islands, according to the regional digital newspaper Tiempo de Canarias.

By Pedro Orihuela