Laurence Crumbie
BRITISH and German holidaymakers are flocking to the Canaries now that they do not have to self-isolate on return.
According to a recent study by Bookiply, a service provider for holiday rental owners, bookings to the islands have doubled in just a week, proving that COVID-19 is less infectious than the travel bug.
“After the German and British governments lifted the travel warnings, we immediately recorded the first bookings,” reported Gabriela Rubio, manager of Bookiply’s Tenerife office.
Tourism on every Canary island has boomed since the region was taken off the list of risk areas on October 25. But Tenerife has profited the most, with 75% of its accommodation already booked for the Christmas period.
Part of this surge may be due to the new trend of ‘worcation’ – the combination of work and vacation, spawned by months of home office in colder climes.
However, Rubio believes that digitalisation of the holiday market has played a leading role, too.
“People’s online affinity has taken a huge leap [during the pandemic],” she explained. “Bookings on the computer or via an app have increased enormously.”
Overall, Bookiply’s study predicts that the holiday rental market on the Canaries will benefit from this year of crisis.
