Gran Canaria

Hopeful reports for the Gran Canaria holidays market has come from the same source that has seen the number of UK visitors slip to the island in the last couple of years - the Foreign Exchange and currency rates.

The British Pound - Sterling - has rallied on the foreign exchanges in the last few weeks, and there are signs that it could go higher against the Euro in the months to come.

Driving down the value of the Euro is the fragile state of the Greek economy, with a high debt ratio to GDP. Other Eurozone countries have rallied around to try and get the Greek debt problem solved, but other memebrs aren’t far behind in being just as vulnerable, Ireland and Cyprus for example.

The Spanish economy is also vulnerable, but if the Euro does fall in value it could mean good news for the Spanish economy overall as a large part of its GDP is from tourism, and Gran Canaria could see the return of British tourists who love the island but have been tempted by cheaper destinations in the last couple of years.

Turkey and Egypt have benefitted at Spain’s expense, as tour operators not only promote good value deals for holidays there, but both are outside the Eurozone where the British Pound still buys a good amount of the local currency.

A British General Election is just weeks away, and opinion polls could send the pound higher or lower, depending upon what they indicate.

The currency markets favour a strong government with a majority in the House of Commons big enough to vote through difficult decisions - if opinion polls show the possibility of a hung parliament where no one party has overall control, it will send sterling down again.

But indications of a comfortable Conservative or Labour victory will help settle the markets over the future of the UK currency.

The election has to be held by early June, with most commentators speculating that Gordon Brown will plump for May 6, when local elections are due too, which would mean more Labour voters turning up to vote, and even if they lost nationally they could hold power in more local authority areas.

And with the election likely to be held in May, if Sterling does increase in value in the weeks after, the timing couldn’t be better for those taking holidays in Gran Canaria who will be able to buy more Euros for their spending money.

It would be good news too for tourists who visit for holidays later in the year - the Gran Canaria weather allows the island to be an all year vacation destination, along with the other Canary Islands, who see holidaymakers escape the Northern Europe chill for a break in the sun.

An increasingly attractive option for those wintering on the island is to have their own home without the cost of buying, through renting with specialist companies who do Gran Canaria villa holidays. Many have their own heated pool for the winter months.

For more photographs of Gran Canaria visit flickr

If you think of the Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, you probably think of palm trees, endless beaches and colourful gardens. The last thing that enters your mind is cheese, but that is all set to change this autumn. From September 30 through October 4, the World Cheese Convention is scheduled for the Canary Islands.

The 2009 International Cheese Festival is open to the cheese-loving public. It will occur in southern Gran Canaria’s Maspalomas Congress Centre. Event organizers anticipate a crowd of over 10,000 visitors.

This year marks the second time the event has been held outside the United Kingdom. The convention will bring together over 400 expert judges to evaluate over 4,000 of the world’s finest cheeses. The Canary Islands alone have already entered over 60 cheeses into the competition.

The competitive part of the convention will name the winning cheese in several categories. The main international cheese buyers watch the competition closely. The judging occurs on September 30, and an awards banquet is scheduled for the following night. The rest of the festival consists of the World Cheese Congress, where international experts will discuss the future of the cheese industry.

Cheese is one of the world’s oldest foods. More than 400 varieties of cheese exist around the world. It is made from the milk of cows, sheep, buffalo, goats, reindeer, camels and yaks. Whether it is served warm or cold, it is one of the most versatile and nutritious foods.

Hundreds of special techniques create the different varieties of cheese available today. However, there are three basic steps in the making of cheese that every variety has in common. The first step is creating curds in milk. The second step is the separation of the curds from the whey, which is the milky liquid left over when curds are created. Finally, the curds are turned to a finished cheese using a variety of aging and curing techniques.

The International Cheese Festival 2009 was moved to the Canary Islands when the Canary Island government expressed an interest in hosting the convention. The event’s organizers, The British Guild of Fine Food, were happy to accept the invitation. They chose Maspalomas as their event’s destination for 2009. The weather in Gran Canaria for that time of year should be terrific.

Government officials agreed to fund all travel and accommodation costs for those invited. They intend to incur the cost of freighting all cheese entries from their countries of origin to the awards. The international economic slowdown has had large effects on tourism and travel around the globe and they want to make sure when people consider a holiday they consider Gran Canaria.

The Canary Island government hopes the event will attract international visitors. The sunny climate and weather in Gran Canaria plus the gorgeous terrain of the Canary Islands is sure to attract cheese buyers and cheese lovers from around the world. The Canary Island government recognizes the benefits of hosting the convention on their local economy. They anticipate their location will benefit area businesses and convention goers alike.

Gran Canaria is located 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa. The island is southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The archipelago of the Canary Islands was claimed by Spain in the 15th century.

A popular destination of the Canary Islands that cheese festival visitors are sure to enjoy is Palmitos Park. It features elaborate plants and fascinating animals. The orchid house is always a visitor favourite, as is the park’s collection of exotic birds.

For nightlife, visitors are always pleased by the Yumbo Centre. It features a wide array of bars and restaurants to suit every taste. Shopping and mall walking are popular activities at the Yumbo Centre with families. The facility also features open architecture and spacious green areas if visitors want to seek non-cheese related activities.

The 2009 International Cheese Festival is sure to please spectators and competitors alike. The variety of cheese from around the world will impress cheese aficionados from around the world. The beauty of the Canary Islands will be an added attraction for those enjoying the festival and make it one to remember.

Quite a few non Europeans hearing the name Benidorm may not recognise it right away. However, this little coastal town tucked away in Spain is a vacationer’s paradise. In fact, Benidorm, one of the many tourist towns in the Alicante province is synonymous with tourism in Spain. It was one of the first areas in Spain that developed a thriving tourism industry.

Like most towns in Europe, Benidorm is an eclectic mix of old and new. Walk down cobbled streets and get lost in time before the advent of bustling traffic and high-rise buildings. It is easy to savour the culture of a by-gone era while still enjoying all the pleasures of modern living. In the past, Benidorm was very popular with tourists because of its cheap rates. However, this has changed over the years.

Recently a newspaper article expressed concern that the current economic meltdown has pushed prices higher. Despite the increased rates, tourists, especially from the UK, still make Benidorm a part of their holiday plans.

Nightlife on the Town

If you’re wondering what to do in Benidorm, there is no shortage of nighttime activities and entertainment for visitors to Benidorm. There is a large selection of clubs and bars to choose from. Throw in the free cabaret acts to be found in many establishments, and you get a picture of what type of fun this town has for the adult tourists who just want to unwind. There are countless bars and nightspots for all incomes and age groups.

This is one Spanish holidays town that is known for the number of fiestas it produces year round. Reports indicate that over 50 fiestas are held annually, many of which are free. Both Christians and non-Christians can find some fiesta or other gala to meet their entertainment needs.

The Benidorm Palace is an entertainment package that must be seen to be believed. After a scrumptious meal, you will be entertained by beautifully clad dancers.

Where to Eat

Finding somewhere to sample some of the best in Mediterranean cuisine is easy. Choices abound from the classier restaurants in four-star hotels to cozy little eateries around town. The choice of menus reflects a global trend with Chinese, Indian and other nationalities readily available. Of course, popular Spanish fare is also on hand for those who want the real deal.

Some popular restaurants in Benidorm are the Duomo, home of great Italian food; the Agir Restaurant; and the Queen Vic, known for its English fare. Authentic Spanish food is best had in the older part of Benidorm, which is known for preserving the past of this thriving resort town.

Best Beaches on Benidorm

As to be expected in a Mediterranean paradise such as Benidorm, the beaches are beautiful. The top three beaches are Llevante (or Playa Levante), Playa Poniente and the small, out-of-the-way Playa de Mal Pas. They have all received the European Union’s standard for quality: the Blue Flag.

Quite a few tour operators like Thomas Cook and Thompsons Holidays offer excursions to their clients once they are in town.

In addition to the beaches, there are also some fantastic water parks in Benidorm. Two of them are Mundomar Marine Exotic Animal Park and Aqualandia Water Amusement Park. These parks appeal to adults and children alike with their colorful animal life and attractions. At Mundomar be sure to look out for the dancing with dolphins show.

Shopping Opportunities

There is no shortage of shopping opportunities in Benidorm. Those wanting to take home a little reminder of their trip can do so without spending an arm and a leg. Popular items for sale include leather goods, jewelry and shoes. The prices are not prohibitive either.

In fact, when people say there is something for everyone, it’s definitely true for Benidorm. Apart from the attractions listed above, there are top class golf courses for golf lovers, with some just a few hours drive outside of Benidorm itself.

Of course no visit to Benidorm can be complete with at least one visit to “Peacock Island.” The rocky outcropping got its name from the peacocks that have made it their home.

So, the next time you plan on having your holidays in Europe, add Benidorm to your itinerary. While it may no longer offer the cheapest holiday package in the region, it more than makes up for this with all it has to offer in other ways for 2009.

A recent opinion poll of European tourists indicates that the Canary Islands are one of Spain’s top destinations. This is music to the ears of business owners in Gran Canaria and the surrounding islands. It follows a prediction of economic downturn in Europe. It is also in contrast to other Spanish destinations that are suffering economically.

The same poll gives special mention to San Bartolome de Tirajana, Gran Canaria’s largest municipality. It is the biggest in all of the Canary Islands. Tourism is one of the top three industries fueling the municipality’s economy.

San Bartolome de Tirajana is home to spectacular terrain. Rugged mountains compete with portions of barren desert land, forested valleys and gorgeous coastline.

This vast and varied terrain has landed Gran Canaria the designation of World Biosphere Reserve. It’s an international conservation designation assigned by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This designation helps ensure high standards of conservation practices are adhered to. Development is strictly regulated and monitored; indigenous species are protected; and ecosystems are rigorously maintained.

Some areas have limited or restricted access due to the highly sensitive ecosystems they encompass. San Bartolome de Tirajana is home to one of the island’s most beautiful eco-preserves, the Parque Natural de Pilancones. Fortunately for tourists, this particular location is fully accessible by the public. It draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the region.

Gran Canaria relies heavily upon San Bartolome de Tirajana for much of the island’s annual income. Its resorts, beaches, natural sites and golf courses draw foreign and local tourists alike.

In 2007 the Canary Islands had 3.2 million overnight stays, a drop of 2.2 percent from the previous year, but still the highest number of occupied nights in all of Spain. Despite this drop, the Canary Islands saw a 2 percent increase in tourism overall. This figure has landed it in the top three tourist destinations. It suggests that people may be traveling less or for shorter durations. It clearly doesn’t support any notion that the Canaries are waning in popularity.

Tourists polled from Britain note that the Canaries have the best beaches in Spain. Holidaymakers also enjoy the slower pace found there. Island tourist destinations are usually slightly less accessible than their mainland counterparts. This may be the main reason that the Canary Islands are less crowded with sightseers. Those who do make the effort to get there seem to appreciate the extra elbow room and stay longer.

Tourism officials on Gran Canaria and the Canaries in general are cheering at these latest numbers. Far from patting themselves on the back and popping champagne corks, they are aiming to stay on top. High tourist season is winding down for the year. The down season provides a welcome slowness in which to gear up for the next high time.

Businesses in the Canary Islands and on Gran Canaria in particular expect to see continued growth in tourism. Local officials work hard to maintain clean and attractive beaches and public areas. Local businesses are often referred to by visitors as some of the friendliest in Spain. All of these put the Canaries in the running for topping the list of Spanish tourist destinations again next year.

This year’s ABTA Convention (ABTA is the Association of British Travel Agents) took place in October in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria - the first time ABTA has gathered on the island.

A major theme of the convention was the issue of innovation in tourism. But environmental concerns have taken center stage in world politics and business development with greater frequency over the past few years. Much of the discussion, both formally and informally, centered on eco tourism and sustainable tourism. This was especially true in light of a special address by Prince Charles.

The travel industry and ABTA in particular have been addressing issues like sustainable tourism for some time. In 2007 ABTA launched a program that directly challenged the industry called ‘Reduce My Footprint’.

The program encourages both businesses and individuals to determine their carbon footprints. The goal is to increase consumer awareness and lessen the impact of travel and tourism on destinations.

A special video address by Prince Charles was featured at this year’s convention. Prince Charles reinforced the need for eco tourism and the continuing development of sustainable tourism. The Prince is no stranger to issues involving the environment. He has long championed governmental and individual efforts in pursuit of reversing what he has referred to as ‘the greatest challenge to face man.’

The prince has led by example in this effort. His Home Farm in Gloucestershire produces organic food and drink, as well as a line of luxury body care products under the label of Duchy Originals. He is credited with producing one of the first brands to market organic foods in Great Britain. All of the proceeds from Duchy Originals goes directly to The Prince of Wales Charitable Foundation. Duchy Originals makes about a million British pounds profit yearly and is still growing.

Prince Charles echoed ideas he stressed in addressing business leaders a year ago. He likened the need to use innovation and creativity to combat global warming in much the same way that business leaders rose to the challenge of World War II. The Prince expressed enormous faith in big business and its ability to use their combined power to make a significant difference.

By inviting business leaders to rise to the challenge Prince Charles was able to enlist pledges from a majority of his 110 member audience to do more. For example the CEO of EDF Vincent di Rivaz pledged to reduce the utility’s energy use by 30 percent with another 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2012. Prince Charles hoped to generate the same kind of response from the tourist industry in his video address.

The agenda set forth at the ABTA conference was certainly in sync with Prince Charles’ address. The conference was set to debate the future of tourism over the next decade and a half. A key theme was change in relation to environmental issues and economic swings. ABTA is the most important yearly convention in the travel industry and always attracts participants from large and small firms alike. Several of the largest travel companies have already entered into a long-term agreement with Forum for the Future. Forum was co-founded by long-time environmentalist Jonathan Porritt, who was the former director of Friends of the Earth.

Eco tourism and sustainable tourism are all about lessening the carbon footprints that have contributed to the interruption in ecological and cultural growth. The challenge facing the travel industry is that until now eco tourism was a very small part of the market. More and more individuals and small groups do want to experience an environmentally friendly holiday, but it is hard to ramp up tourist visits to include large and continuous groups.

The things that attract people to the eco friendly tours are the very things that are put at risk when large numbers of people are involved even though they may be well-meaning. The combination of natural beauty and the fragility of the terrain will make it much harder to maintain when large scale tourism is thrown into the mix.

Judging by the ABTA conference, the travel industry seems poised to seriously address these issues. Industry leaders are well aware of what is at stake for their industry and seem determined to do everything in their power to come up with workable innovative solutions for sustainable growth. The buzz words floating around Gran Canaria in informal discussions definitely included eco tourism and sustainable growth. Tourists and booking agents alike should be paying close attention to the kinds of getaway holidays that will be popping up the near future in the wake of the ABTA convention.

It may be one measure of how serious industry leaders are about implementing ideas put forth at the convention and the direction that travel may be taking.