Tour operators warn of major threat to Canary Islands tourism
Tour operators have written to the Spanish government urging it to block plans to drill for oil off the Canaries, which they warn would harm tourism to the islands for ever.
Repsol, the Spanish oil and gas giant, has been given the go ahead to prospect for oil less than 40kms off the coast off Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, said the Daily Mail.
The regional government of the Canaries has mounted a legal challenge to the decision because of the damage it will do to tourism, which is the islands’ main source of income.
ABTA and the Federation of Tour Operators have also written to the Spanish government to protest.
Repsol intends to drill its first exploratory well in 2014 and if findings are positive to start commercial extraction in 2019.
Last weekend, several thousand people took part in demonstrations in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Tenerife against the plans.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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