Lanzarote Tourism Body Tries To Repair Relations With UK Holidaymakers
A Lanzarote tourism body is scrambling to repair relations with British holidaymakers and has distanced itself from the island's president after she called for a ‘higher class' of visitors.
TheTourist Federation of Lanzarote (FTL) reiterated today that the island has 'very strong ties' with British tourists and will continue
FTL's remarks come after Lanzarote President Dolores Corujo last week and that it instead wanted to accommodate more 'higher quality' travellers from mainland Europe.
The tourism body has called on Ms Corujo to 'clarify the situation' and meet with representatives from the UK market to reiterate that 'our Island is open都the reception of visitors from any part of the world.'
Jet 2 sends around 625,000 tourists to Lanzarote each year to enjoy its volcanic beaches
FTL insisted that all tourists are welcome on the island and reiterated that Lanzarote offers experiences for all budgets and nationalities， including Britons.
'We have always had very strong ties with the British market and， thanks to this， relations have been strengthened in such a way that they present a high level of fidelity with the Island,' FTL wrote in a， translated from Spanish， today.
'Lanzarote is an absolutely hospitable island and will continue都be so for British tourists， for which we emphasise its importance in the tourist and economic sphere of the island.'
The tourism body also pointed out how Ms Corujo's remarks had prompted negative reactions from British press and tourism operators.
The authority called on the President to amend the situation by 'detailing the concept of higher quality tourism correctly.'
FTL's statement came after the CEO of British tour operator Jet2 demanded an explanation from Lanzarote's president over what
Airline boss Steve Heapy has sent a letter to Ms Corujo asking her都clarify her statements and whether she wants tourists from the UK to come都the Canary island.
Mr Heapy told : 'As the largest UK tour operator to Lanzarote，
彼added that彼wanted to know 'what she means and to what extent she wants to reduce British tourism.'
This follows Corujo's comments last week thatand that the island instead wanted to accommodate more 'higher quality' travellers from mainland Europe.
Steve Heapy， CEO of Jet2， is said to have sent a letter to Lanzarote president Dolores Corujo asking her都clarify her comments
Speaking in Berlin earlier this month， Ms Corujo said she did not want Lanzarote to have to depend on large volumes of British tourists， and would instead seek都attract higher-spending holidaymakers from Germany， the Netherlands， and France.
Mr Heapy said the president's comments have 'left the hotelier community asking the same questions.'
The Jet2 boss also added that彼had 'extreme concern' after the president as her statements would have 'a very detrimental effect on British tourists' who chose to holiday on the island，reported.
Jet2 has been approached for comment.
Jet2 is the UK's largest holiday tour operator。 The company sends around 625,000 tourists to Lanzarote each year.
Mr Heapy said there was now a lot at stake for the company and for the tourism industry，reported.
Despite Ms Corujo pivoting theisland's future tourism strategy away from Brits，彼said Jet2 had heavily invested in Lanzarote.
The company has contracts with 111 hotels， 46 villas， and 8 resorts across Lanzarote， playing a crucial role in the island's economy.
Last week， Ms Corujo told German tourist representatives that their market aligned with her intention to bring a 'higher-quality' tourism都the island.
She said: 'It's essential to work on the diversification of the sector and the growth of markets like the German market， which adapt to our intentions of aiming at higher-quality tourism and holidaymakers who spend more when they're here and moves us away from mass tourism.'
Ms Corujo is pivoting the island's future tourism strategy away from British holidaymakers
Ms Corujo said she would instead seek都attract higher-spending holidaymakers from Germany， the Netherlands， and France
Ms Corujo's statement taking a swipe at British holidaymakers was subsequently published across the UK press.
Mr Heapy said彼had 'extreme concern regarding the articles that have been published in the main print and online newspapers in the United Kingdom this weekend'.
彼said it would have 'a very detrimental effect on British tourists who are choosing Lanzarote for their holidays this year.'
Ms Corujo has for months appeared to warn against UK travellers.
Last month she declared the Canary island was saturated with British tourists and wanted a new approach to their tourism industry.
She claimed the change of profile would bring in fewer visitors 'with a greater spending in the destination'.
shows Britons spend an average of €34.94 per day on the island， more than most foreign visitors.
Moreover， around half of all the tourists who visit the island are British.
This is four times more than Germany at 309,000， with Ireland sending 285,000 and France totalling 115,000.
Lanzarote is sticking to its guns in its bid to 'desaturate' the island from to͘ many tourists and become less dependent on British visitors
Lanzarote island president María Dolores Corujo (pictured second-right) has pioneered the new approach to attract more mainland European visitors instead of Brits
Despite this Ms Corujo has pinned the island's future tourism strategy on one of 'diversification to reduce the dependence on the British market' and what she claims will welcome more 'upmarket' holidaymakers.
Tourist Federation of Lanzarote has also sought to distance itself from Ms Corujo's remarks.
A spokesperson told that it hoped Ms Corujo would explain her comments and 'hold the necessary meetings with representatives of the British market' to provide them with reasurance.
'We have always had very strong ties with the British market.
Lanzarote is an absolutely hospitable island and will continue都be so for British tourists,' the spokesperson added.
MailOnline has approached The Tourist Federation of Lanzarote for comment.
