Las Palmas Airport Extension Approved

The Environment Ministry or EIA has approved the extension of Gran Canaria’s airport at Las Palmas-Gando after having carried out an environmental impact assessment. Following their guidelines the expansion is part of wider plans by AENA to invest €3 billion across the Canary Island airports. The expansion is required to accommodate the projected growth in passengers expected to be some 16 Million by 2015 with aircraft movement rising to 170,000 by 2025. Continued investment in the Island will benefit not just the yearly visitors but foreign residents as well as the cost and frequency of flights improve making it ever easier for home owners to visit the mainland and Northern Europe.

Golf Tourism Increasing In Canariy Islands

Despite the recession, golf tourism in the Canaries experienced an increase in 2009 according to the Canarian department of tourism. Over 360,000 tourists from across the world and 15,000 from mainland Spain visited the Islands making an increase of 3.5%. The main Golf destinations are still those better known Islands of Tenerife and for Golf in particular La Gomera, however there has been growing interest in Gran Canaria now accounting for 30% followed by Lanzarote and Fuerteventura accounting for 13%. Gran Canaria has over 8 courses to choose from including the 2 at Anfi Tauro, Salobre Golf 18 hole, El Cortijo 18, the Maspalomas & Meloneras 18 holes, Las Palmeras 18 and the Real Club de Golf in Las Palmas. According to the statistics, over 55% of visitors arrange their accommodation via the internet with 32% staying in 4 star hotels for a longer than average of 12 days. Of course with the all year sunshine offered in the Canaries it is unsurprising to find that it is the winter season that is most popular, however there has been a move also towards the summer. Traditionally second home owners have chosen the winter months to enjoy their Island homes in the sun however summer holidays are as popular as ever and there has been increasing private accommodation on offer for those looking for a more personal experience.