“Lanzarote is growing less but earning more. That is the tourism model we want.”

The Cabildo has declared its participation in the recent World Travel Market (WTM) 2025 in London a success, reinforcing ties with the island’s most important market, the United Kingdom.

The event, a cornerstone of the global tourism calendar, provided a platform for the Lanzarote delegation, led by SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote, to outline its strategic vision for the island’s future. This vision was underscored by connectivity forecasts for the winter 2025-2026 season, which predict a 3.4% increase in airline seats from the UK, signalling continued strong demand.

The Cabildo President and Minister of Tourism, Oswaldo Betancort, emphasised that this growth is part of a deliberate and mature strategy. He stated that Lanzarote “has reached a stage of maturity in which containing growth is not a hindrance, but a strategic decision.”

“Lanzarote is growing less but earning more. That is the stability and maturity of the tourism model we want: more profitable tourism, more respectful of the territory, and more aligned with our identity,” Betancort emphasised, recalling that “no one chooses a destination that is not of high quality.”

Echoing this sentiment, the CEO of SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote, Héctor Fernández, said the performance of the British market “demonstrates the strength of the destination and the success of planning that seeks balance and consistency.”

“The slight adjustment in tourist arrivals is not a sign of weakness, but of control. We are containing growth and, at the same time, increasing spending at the destination. That is the right direction,” said Fernández.

The island’s delegation held high-level meetings with major UK tour operators, including TUI, Jet2, and EasyJet, as well as the ABTA travel trade association and the Spanish Tourist Office in London.

A key outcome of the fair was the signing of a new collaboration agreement with British Airways. The deal, the result of two years of work, is set to strengthen air links and solidify a partnership with one of the world’s most prestigious airlines.

Lanzarote also used the platform to present the upcoming World Charter for Sustainable Tourism +30 event to the British travel sector. The event, scheduled for 28th November at Jameos del Agua, was highlighted as an example of the island’s commitment to a regenerative and sustainable tourism model designed to benefit both visitors and residents.

Further underpinning this commitment to quality, President Betancort highlighted the ongoing modernisation of key resorts Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise, and Playa Blanca. These efforts have positioned Lanzarote as the island with the highest proportional growth in five-star hotels, boosting competitiveness through renovation and a focus on excellence.

In closing, Betancort said, “When people say that we depend on British tourism, I prefer to say: blessed dependence. We depend on a loyal, stable market that values what we are: an island that protects its territory, that strives for excellence and that opens itself up to the world without losing its identity.”