Holiday hotspots in Lanzarote, Spain, a Brit favourite, are crying out for transport improvements to enhance travellers’ experiences.
The island’s tourism chiefs have reportedly begged the local government to sort the taxi troubles, stressing that the initial impression of visitors is paramount when they land, Canarian Weekly notes.
Susana Pérez, the head honcho at both the Lanzarote Tourism Federation and Lanzarote’s Hotel and Apartment Owners Association, has gone on record to emphasise the impact on tourists and locals alike. “We cannot allow the lack of taxis to ruin the experience of tourists or inconvenience residents,” Pérez has been quoted as saying.
“Imagine families with small children, waiting endlessly for a taxi after a three or four-hour flight. This is not the impression we want to give, especially at Christmas,” she insists. Echoing the sense of urgency, reports indicate that businesses in the town of Yaiza are up in arms over how tough getting a cab has become, causing diners to bail on bookings and hotel-goers to potentially miss their stays due to the travel snag.
The issues are reportedly more visible during weekends and are predicted to escalate over the Christmas holidays, a crucial period for the local economy as it welcomes British sunseekers fleeing the winter blues – who account for half of the island’s arrivals. Taxis play a vital role in the tourism economy, enabling visitors to access these businesses.
As the festive season looms, FTL has called on the Lanzarote Cabildo’s Department of Transport to promptly implement measures to reduce the risk of taxi services falling short. One suggested solution is the introduction of a joint taxi service, reports the Express.
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This would permit vehicles from all municipalities on the island to operate at the airport, known as César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, Lanzarote Airport or Arrecife Airport, rather than just those from Arrecife, the administrative hub of the island, as current legislation permits. Pérez believes this would help cater to the increasing demand and would also be more sustainable, by allowing drivers from outside the area to avoid empty return trips and pick up passengers at the airport after dropping them off.
The Lanzarote Cabildo has been contacted for comment via its email contact form. The FTL has also reportedly written to the Spanish Government requesting an increase in passport control staff at Lanzarote Airport to prevent congestion over Christmas.
Manual checks for children under 12 have previously caused significant delays, according to Canarian Weekly. The Lanzarote Cabildo had reached out to the Spanish government earlier this summer, requesting additional staff to tackle these delays.
The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration of the Spanish government has been contacted via email for a comment on the matter. Aena, the state-owned company that operates César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, has also been approached via email.
