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16 | Gazette Life | August 2025It's been many years since anyone last used the term %u201cLanzagrotty%u201d. Coined by Michael Palin, who doesn't seem to have ever visited the island, it was used to describe low-quality package tourism, and, around the turn of the century, it probably had some basis in fact.This was admitted by the Mayor of T%u00edas, Jos%u00e9 Juan Cruz, when we interviewed him recently. He told us that Puerto del Carmen, the island's oldest and largest resort, has been successfully eliminating or renovating poor quality accommodation as part of its improvement plan. He signalled the example of Playa Blanca, a newer resort which has achieved greater income with fewer tourist beds.This focus on quality tourism is nothing new. It's been promoted by the Canarian authorities for many years and is one of the reasons why Lanzarote has taken so much trouble to successfully market itself as a sporting and gastronomic destination.QUALITY CONTROLLanzarote's tourism figures continue to rise, but is the island achieving its stated ambition of %u201cquality tourism%u201d with fewer, wealthier visitors bringing more money? But whether the islands are achieving this quality is quite another matter. Earlier this year, Canarian Tourist Minister Jessica de Le%u00f3n admitted that the islands are suffering a %u201creputational crisis%u201d stemming from the amount of tourism and required %u201climits and quality%u201d to avoid %u201cdying of success.%u201dOn Lanzarote, there is one area where the policy of higher profits and fewer tourists appears to be working. In 2024 the price of an adult non-resident ticket to the Fire Mountains of Timanfaya was increased from %u20ac12 to %u20ac22. That's the same price as entry to Paris's Louvre Museum and more expensive than a ticket to the Acropolis in Athens.The steep price increase led to a 15% decrease in visitors in 2024, but officials at the CACTs, (Centres of Art, Culture and Tourism) claim that income has increased immensely. The pattern of higher prices leading to fewer visitors and greater profits has been repeated at the other four most popular CACTs, The Mirador del R%u00edo, Jameos del Agua, Cueva de los Verde and the Cactus Garden.But if the policy appears to be working at the tourist centres, it is not yet happening on the island in general, where the figures show that, despite price rises, there are more tourists than ever before.Every month this year has seen an increase in tourism, with an overall rise of 3% on last year, which itself saw all-time records broken. Attempts to diversify the sources of the island's tourism have largely failed, and the reliance on the British market remains strong, with the UK providing 50% of all tourism to Lanzarote. Despite its small population, Ireland is now firmly established as the second most important GAZETTE | INTERVIEWWe aim to inspire and impress with our expert, friendly, reliable service.From selection - installation. Always professional - we care!%u2022 Electric/Manual blinds%u2022 Roller & Vertical%u2022 Venetian (Wood & Aluminium)Thousands of fabrics/samples tochoose from.Free home consultation.Smart speaker/Hub controlled products, operational from anywhere in the world, elevate your security.%u2022 Pleated & Panel%u2022 Roof Sails (Indoor & Outdoor)%u2022 Curtains and Electric Tracks+34 686 332 015 or +447712569719blindsallmadeup@hotmail.com%u2022 Interior Plantation Wooden Shutters%u2022 Curtain AlterationsWE COVER PLAYA BLANCA, T%u00cdAS, MACHER, ASOMADA, PUERTO DEL CARMEN, PUERTO CALERO, PLAYA HONDA & SAN BARTOLOM%u00c9 MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Contact Richard or Shelley onwww.allmadeup.infoBlinds and Curtains to suit all budgets!