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May 2026 | Gazette Life | 7Lanzarote%u2019s tourists remained the most faithful in the Canaries last year, with 71% of visitors returning to the island after a previous visit. Almost a quarter of tourists report having holidayed on the island on ten or more previous occasions.Lanzarote%u2019s tourists are also the oldest on average, with an average of 50.9 years of age, according to a survey commissioned by the Canarian Government on the five most popular Canary Islands.The survey also reveals that Lanzarote tourists are the wealthiest, with over 30% of respondents reporting an average income of over %u20ac75,000 a year.Almost half of Lanzarote visitors travel with a partner, while just under 7% travel alone. 30.4% of visitors stay in all-inclusive accommodation, the secondhighest figure in the Canaries after Fuerteventura, where nearly 50% choose the all-inclusive option.Lanzarote also leads the islands in terms of visitor satisfaction, with visitors ranking the island 8.91 on a scale of one to ten.LANZAROTE TOURISTS REMAIN FAITHFUL & SATISFIED A Green Flag is finally flying over Arrecife%u2019s city beach, Playa Reducto, signalling that bathing is finally safe after almost six months of closure.The beach was closed on October 14th last year after traces of sewage were found in the water. After some false leads, an extensive investigation finally discovered that the source of the leak was a sump that had become disconnected from the sewage system during recent pedestrianization works.This has now been repaired, and tests have now shown that the shallow, sheltered waters of Arrecife%u2019s most famous beach are now fit for bathing.REDUCTO RE-OPENS The Franz Weber Foundation has collected 34,000 signatures in a campaign to end camel tours in Timanfaya.The foundation%u2019s petition on Change.org calls for an end to %u201cthis inhumane tourist attraction%u201d and calls for %u201cethical and sustainable alternatives that do not involve animal suffering.%u201dThe foundation has previously highlighted mistreatment of camels at Timanfaya, and alleges that the animals suffer various health problems related to their labour, lack of shade and the wearing of bridles.ACALAN, the Lanzarote Association of Camel Owners, has responded that the claims %u201cLack evidence%u201d and states that it is %u201cconsidering legal action%u201d.34,000 SIGNATURES COLLECTED IN CAMPAIGN TO END CAMEL TOURS IN TIMANFAYAA boat containing 37 migrants was intercepted in waters 40 miles from Lanzarote on April 6th. A Maritime Rescue vessel escorted the patera to Puerto Naos, where 33 men and four women were received.This was the first patera to arrive on Lanzarote this year, with none at all registered in the first three months of 2026. Even taking the poor weather into account, this shows a drastic decrease in arrivals to Lanzarote compared to the 1,359 migrants who arrived in the first quarter of 2025. Enrique Espinosa, head of Lanzarote%u2019s Emergency Consortium, commented %u201cThe decrease on the Canarian route is evident. It seems they are now looking for other ways to reach Europe.%u201dFigures from Spain%u2019s Interior Ministry bear this out %u2013 while irregular immigration by sea to the Canary Islands has fallen by 80% this year, arrivals to the Balearics and mainland Spain have experienced a 43% increase. DRASTIC DECREASE IN PATERAS