Lanzarote says it is fed up with having so many British tourists visiting the island - and wants FEWER UK holidaymakers!

We've been many times. Papagayo Beach is one of the best beaches I've been on. Rather hidden gem.

An awful lot of bars and restaurants in the popular resorts are owned by Brits so unsure if they'll be unwelcome

Generally, the British are problematic - as tourists and/or football supporters - so not exactly welcomed anywhere (though perhaps tolerated for income reasons). Why assume they are happy to see us?

I guess they want to feel that the island is still their home, which when you’re outnumbered 17 to 1 by tourists must be quite difficult to do. If I were their government, I think I’d feel the same, in an ideal world less people who spend more money, and who may be more respectful of their culture would be the goal. Some British tourists abroad let the rest of us down pretty badly by their behaviour, I don’t blame them if they no longer want to attract the stag parties etc.

Same everywhere ‘touristy’ I suppose. My mum was born in Blackpool and I remember her saying ‘you couldn’t get into the Tower Ballroom in the early 50’s for all the visitors queuing in the summer months’!
🤣

Ooh yes, Blackpool and Rhyl.
You can keep Lanzarote, Blackpool has better beaches.

I’d never heard of Lanzarote so I looked it up. It looks very interesting and not that far,either. It takes us about the same length of time to fly to Perth from Melbourne. You are so lucky living in Europe, such a lot of close places. If they don’t want British tourists,what sort do they want ? Do the Brits have a reputation for rowdiness or something ( like the Australians who go to Kuta)?

Urmstongran

Oh dear.
I think they may regret this statement. Brits abroad spend a lot of money.
What are your thoughts on this?

I really doubt they asked everyone. You’d probably get Blackpool residents saying the same thing if you tried.

Holiday destinations abroad rely on exporting goods and tourism as their main source of income. I am sure the beer drinking Brits irritate the locals and have done for years. I know they did years ago in and around the Greek Islands. It’s unfortunate that all tourists are classed as the same.

Since Covid a lot of people of all ages are giving up going abroad and staying put because of costs. Even though holiday spots here are rather expensive. A family day out or weekend here at a theme park costs an arm and a leg.

I went to Lanzarote over thirty years ago it struck me as a lovely clean place to go with some breathtaking scenery. But I thought the place lacked history and culture and decided it wasn’t for me.

They should be careful what they wish for, I believe mainland Spain wants more British tourists when we were waiting to board the ferry at Santander last year we were asked to do a tourism survey and the lovely Spanish lady said they want the EU to stop the 3 month rule for Brits because the restaurants and shops were losing money they want more Brits visiting. We stayed at an all inclusive hotel in Lanzarote about 15 years ago wasn't keen on the area where we stayed, we went to Playa Blanca and had a trip to Fuerteventura but have never wanted to go back. I prefer mainland Spain and Turkey.

I don’t agree with that assessment that they should be careful what they wish for Maudi, because they will always do well, the weather will always draw Europeans to the Canaries in the winter, as the weather is warmer than mainland Spain. I’d imagine Santander must have quite iffy weather apart from in the summer so it’s not the same scenario.
I live in a tourist area myself, and I am sympathetic to what the locals must feel. Yes, tourism brings money, but the only way of filtering (most of) the badly behaved tourists out is to go upmarket.
It feels to me that there’s a bit of the ‘How dare they do this to us wonderful Brits’ about this thread, when what we should be doing is putting ourselves in their shoes.

I agree Casdon. Living on Mallorca off season was so much nicer than on season. British, and to a slightly lesser degree German, tourists were the worst by far. Loud, demanding and disruptive. Little respect for the locals. Germans similar, although their main factor was taking the roads over in huge swarms of cyclists preventing vehicles from moving safely.

It's a delicate balance. Tourist money is needed but tourist bad behaviour is unwelcome. British arrogance is what makes us unwelcome unfortunately.

Redhead 56 'Since Covid a lot of people of all ages are giving up going abroad and staying put because of costs. '

and yes, this is definitely a factor. Travel agents in the UK cannot raise prices much, due to so many feeling the pinch and a lot more, and yet the Pound currently does not go very far at all. Holiday resorts can sell the same holiday at the same price in Euros, or even better, currencies which are doing very well. Selling a holiday to people who will pay in Sterling, without massively raising prices, is just not good business for them.

nanna8

I’d never heard of Lanzarote so I looked it up. It looks very interesting and not that far,either. It takes us about the same length of time to fly to Perth from Melbourne. You are so lucky living in Europe, such a lot of close places. If they don’t want British tourists,what sort do they want ? Do the Brits have a reputation for rowdiness or something ( like the Australians who go to Kuta)?

Yes, they do, a certain section of them if we all admit it. My DD went 15 years ago to a friend's timeshare and they were calling it Lanzagrotte when they came back.
The Island has had lots of time to up its game and standard of accommodation to attract those they want to visit.
Obviously, a lot of grans netters know the places to stay and places to visit, far from the Madding crowd of drunken loutish British, Stag and Hen parties. If I were them I would keep them to myself, and hope that Robinson Green does not visit for his favourite spots abroad.

We always try to choose a holiday destination that has a mix of nationalities on holiday and definitely avoid areas known to be a popular British destination.

If possible we would like to choose somewhere that has very little tourism, but that is becoming more and more difficult.

Going inland can help avoid many tourists, because a large percentage of them flock to the coasts. Or avoiding peak season. I've had lovely beach holidays with empty beaches by travelling in term time, later in the year.

Renting a car also helps avoid the crush. As a teacher I was limited to school hol travel but managed to escape the hordes by driving to remote areas, even when our accommodation has been in a busier area.

A holiday package, at the end of the day, is just another commercial product' Makes sense to sell to those with a better currency and standards. Be it cars, medicines, etc, etc, etc, and holidays. If at the same time, you can up your game and attract another 'type' of tourist, and make everyones life more enjoyable, be it tourists or locals, win, win, win ...

Anyone who has lived in a tourist destination and is not working in the tourist industry may find it difficult.

Many of us have experienced being both tourist and local in a tourist destination.
The crowds might be annoying to those not working in the tourist industry but obviously they bring income to the area

Swings and roundabouts.

Today 09:44Casdon
I don’t agree with that assessment that they should be careful what they wish for Maudi, because they will always do well, the weather will always draw Europeans to the Canaries in the winter, as the weather is warmer than mainland Spain. I’d imagine Santander must have quite iffy weather apart from in the summer so it’s not the same scenario.

The survey was for the whole of Spain ie where you visited and stayed. I was only getting the ferry from Santander back to the UK we actually spent nearly 3 months in Southern Spain and yes Northern Spain weather not so good in Autumn/Winter. Not so many Brits when we were there more Germans and Dutch they said it was because of the 3 month rule.

Fleurpepper

A holiday package, at the end of the day, is just another commercial product' Makes sense to sell to those with a better currency and standards. Be it cars, medicines, etc, etc, etc, and holidays. If at the same time, you can up your game and attract another 'type' of tourist, and make everyones life more enjoyable, be it tourists or locals, win, win, win ...

So only certain people should be able to experience holidays overseas?

Rather like the days of the Grand Tour while the peasants stayed at home and tilled the soil, worked in the cotton mills.

Bring back the Good Olde Days!

nanna8

I’d never heard of Lanzarote so I looked it up. It looks very interesting and not that far,either. It takes us about the same length of time to fly to Perth from Melbourne. You are so lucky living in Europe, such a lot of close places. If they don’t want British tourists,what sort do they want ? Do the Brits have a reputation for rowdiness or something ( like the Australians who go to Kuta)?

I haven't heard of Kuta, will have to look it up!

Yes, we're all drunk, disorderly and unspeakably noisy. Every single British person.

It's since Brexit you know.

We have another name for it in our family........Lanzagrotty.......says it all as far as we are concerned.

ParlorGames

We have another name for it in our family........Lanzagrotty.......says it all as far as we are concerned.

No, it is intriguing, but without all the sculptures etc it could be just a tad boring less interesting.

It's not at all grotty but it is like the Earth turned inside out! 😀

ParlorGames

We have another name for it in our family........Lanzagrotty.......says it all as far as we are concerned.

Oh dear.

Any reason why?

The childish name, Lanzagrotty has been knocking around for years.

Lanzarote is quite beautiful.

23% of their residents are non native, the majority of those are British, I wonder if they’re the ‘right sort’?

I went to Corfu even before the airport was built. It was idyllic - just like My Family and Other Animals.