Canary Islands – where the travel agents go
ABTA , the Association of British Travel Agents, are in love with the Canary Islands, if you doubt my words, just consider where they have just held their annual 3 day conference, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria. This follows on from last years highly successful conference in Tenerife at the Magma Arts and Congress Centre in Costa Adeje.
It must send a great message to the British public, as they consider where to take their next holidays. The travel industry is feeling the pinch like everyone else, but recent surveys have shown that Brits feel they need their break in the sun more than ever, and will economise in other areas rather than lock the sandals and sun cream away for another year.
This years ABTA conference was held in the Maspalomas Conference Centre in Meloneras, within a seagull’s cry of the beach, and attracted 1,200 delegates. Financial problems were high on the agenda but green issues were also in everyones thoughts, with a word or 2 in their collective ears from Prince Charles. The Prince appeared by video link to stress the dangers of intrusive tourism and the need to be environmentally aware when selling holidays. Don’t worry Charles, it’s a message we are already responding to here in Tenerife.
