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THE INDEPENDENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER WITH LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS
FRIDAY 23rd DECEMBER TO THURSDAY 12th JANUARY 2017 TV GUIDE
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PAGES 25 -32
3 WEEK EDITION - EDITION 566 FORTNIGHTLY SUPPLEMENT F
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PAGES 49 -56
guide
BETTER AND NEW HOTELS ARE KEY TO TENERIFE’S SUCCESS Ashotel says island must be prepared if bubble bursts
H
OTEL leaders in Tenerife have pinpointed the renewal of the island’s holiday accommodation as the key to its future prosper-
ity.
Boom times are currently being enjoyed with a record number of tourists but Ashotel is warning that if or when the bubble bursts, Tenerife must provide the best possible facilities for its visitors. They have also made a plea for Arona Council and the Canary Government to settle their differences and approve once and for all a development plan which would take the municipality forward for the next 20 years. The sentiment is being shared by Arona’s Mayor, José
Julián Mena who says they know what they want to do with the key tourist areas of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas. “We are proposing a model that meets the current needs of two of the most important tourist areas of the Canary Islands,” he said. “We intend to apply common sense, given the past of illegalities and urban problems that have been incurred in the past in our municipality. We want our own urban design and territorial planning, through a General
Plan on which we are working.” President of Ashotel, Jorge Marichal, said it was “vital” that both administrations reached an agreement for the good of the municipality and the tourist destination”. Towns where obsolete hotel accommodation had been renewed were already showing the benefits and it was imperative that this continued NOW. “Otherwise, when the lean times arrive and we do not have our businesses renewed, I do not know what will become of Tenerife as a tourist destination,” he warned. Ashotel considers that the rehabilitation of public and private tourist areas is currently one of the main keys to the tourist destination of the Canar y Islands and if the public administrations do not facilitate and streamline the formalities, the development of the sector is seriously compromised. The group anticipates that a total of 44 Tenerife hotels and
apartments will have been remodelled by the end of 2018, together with eight new constructions. The projects are in both the north and south of the island. Cabildo president, Carlos
Alonso, said the investment exceeds 420 million euros. Island leaders say the projects have a direct effect on the generation of employment, both directly in the housing sector and in tourism as a
whole. The new hotel buildings will create about 1,200 direct jobs in the establishments, while the requalification of lower categories to higher ones is estimated to generate around 700.
World Record rowers rescued by helicopter
T
EN British rowers attempting to break world records for crossing the Atlantic were dramatically rescued in the Canary Islands.
The intrepid friends were aiming to raise thousands of pounds for multiple sclerosis sufferers but had to abandon their dream when the crew leader was taken ill and needed emergency treatment. Their SOS signal was picked up by the the Maspalomas Space Station which alerted the emergency services. They were intercepted 93 miles south west of Gran Canaria and each rower was hoisted to safety by the Maritime Rescue helicopter. The Altantic Rowing Attempt in Orca II was aiming to smash several world records, including the fastest ever team of ten, the most miles covered in 24 hours and the fastest catamaran crossing. It is now known which crew member was taken ill but it meant the whole bid had to be
abandoned. Orca II confirmed on Facebook: “Sadly the expedition is over. The crew were evacuated from the boat yesterday by helicopter and are all now safe on dry land. The next challenge is working out how to get home without passports! “ The boat left Gran Canaria on December 14th and was aiming to get to Barbados some 3,000 miles away in less than 30 days.
It would have involved rowing non-stop for 24 hours a day, with each crew member getting no more than
two hours’ sleep between two hours’ rowing shifts.