It is estimated that the Canary Islands airports will lose around 230,000 tourists after the announcement of an increase in airport charges announced by the central government. The rise, of 12.9%, comes just months after the removal of the bonuses for air rates to operators in January 2012.

Exceltur claims that this could result in a drop of tourist arrivals (Spanish and foreign tourists) of 2.87 million for the whole of Spain, which equals a loss of €1,636 million in direct revenue.

Specifically, the impact on the Canarian airports is calculated to be a drop of 128,240 tourists for the Gran Canaria airport and a drop of 100,390 tourists for the Tenerife South airport.

Exceltur warns that the increases may lead to the redirection of flights by tour operators to competing destinations in emerging countries with lower operating costs, which have implemented an aggressive campaign of reduced rates to attract more tourists and will provide a sharp slowdown in tourism demand in 2012 and also criticised the effect of rising fuel adding to the cost of air tickets.