Canaries News - News from the Canary Islands

Ryanair website closure – Please read if you are travelling with Ryanair

Please note the following news from the official www.ryanair.com website with regards to its 24 hour total website closure due to maintenance, this is of importance if you are due to fly with Ryanair this weekend as you may need to print out your boarding card in advance to avoid extra charges at the airport [...]

Large drop in tourism for the Canary Islands during April 2012

The International crisis and the disappearance of the air tax discounts is being blamed for the large drop in foreign tourism in the Canary Islands during April 2012 (compared to figures for the same month in the previous year, 2011). Airports in the Canary Islands received a total of 787,687 foreign passengers during April 2012, [...]

Property sales continue to drop in the Canaries

Property sales in the Canary Islands are following a downwards trend and have entered a thirteenth month in decline. Figures from March 2012 show a fall of up to 22.7% over the same month of 2011 with a figure of 25,464 transactions. These are similar negative figures to those of January (-26.3%) and February (-31.8%). [...]

Two British tourists die in Gran Canaria due to intense heat

Two British tourists died yesterday (Sunday 13th May 2012) on the island of Gran Canaria in two separate incidents related to the intense heat the Canary Islands have been experiencing. Two others have been admitted to hospital with heat stroke and an additional four people have also needed medical attention. The first event took place [...]

Crisis blamed for increases in robbery

The crisis, along with the increase in unemployment, is being blamed for a dramatic rise in robberies in homes in the Canary Islands in the first quarter of this year (2012), as reflected in the statistics provided recently by the Ministry of Interior. Although this phenomenon is general throughout the country, up 22.3% from January [...]

International line up for Rock Coast Festival in Tenerife

Posted by Canaries News on March 14th, 2012

The fishing harbour in the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz, is to hold the ‘Rock Coast Festival’ with a large International line up between Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th May 2012.

Evanescence, Iggy Pop, The Stooges, Marilyn Manson, Fatboy Slim, Orbital, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tide and This Drama are all due to take to the stage over this three day concert.

Also, the Festival has decided to launch a new season ticket campaign, offering the possibility of VIP tickets for all three days with a discount of almost 35%, at the price of €400. Stand tickets for the three days will cost €200 euros.

Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster.

General strike announced in Spain for 29th March 2012

Posted by Canaries News on March 9th, 2012

CCOO and UGT have unanimously approved the call for a general strike in Spain against the labour reform, the date set according to sources of both unions, is Thursday 29th March 2012. The date chosen, coincides with the general strike called by nationalist unions in the Basque country and Navarra against the labour reform and it is also the day prior to the submission of the State Budget for 2012.

The general secretaries of the CCOO and UGT, Ignacio Fernandez Toxo and Candido Mendez, will offer a press conference today at 13:15 hours to report the reasons that led them to decide to strike.

Unions consider the labour reform approved by the PP government unilaterally as “the most regressive” for the rights of workers and since its launch and have been carrying out demonstrations, rallies and other protests in the streets of Spain. Although calling a general strike at any time was dismissed, the intention has always been to stop the reform before having to make this decision.

This will be the sixth 24-hour general strike in the history of Spain and the second ehich is called under a PP (Partido Popular) government. The first three strikes in Spain took place during the government of Felipe Gonzalez. The first in , the second in 1988 and the third in 1994. In 2002, under the goverment of José María Aznar, CC.OO. and UGT led a general strike called to protest the measures to reform the unemployment protection and Basic Employment Law. The fourth strike in a socialist government was held on September 29, 2010, under the watch of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

In addition to these strikes, in 1978 and 1992 there were two general strikes of an hour and half a day duration, respectively. In 1978 the unions took to the streets motivated by a European call, while in 1992 it was due to the cuts in unemployment benefits proposed by Felipe González which caused the strike.

Related story – General strike 29th September 2010

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Trip Advisor places 3 Canary Island beaches in ‘European Top 10′ award

Posted by Canaries News on March 7th, 2012

Trip Advisor has awarded three Canary Islands beaches in it’s ‘Travellers Choice 2012′ Top 10 European beaches award. Gran Canaria’s ‘Playa del Ingles’ took 8th place, ‘Corralejo’ in Fuerteventura was in 9th place and ‘Puerto del Carmen’ in Lanzarote took 10th place in this category.

Nationally, Spain had strong representation in the list with 5 of the 10 winning beaches. Puerto Alcudia (Mallorca) was in third place, Benidorm (Alicante) in fifth place, and the three above mentioned Canary Island beaches.

Winning beaches are determined based on the scores awarded by TripAdvisor users to each destination in the ‘Sun and Beach’ category. Unlike other industry awards, ‘Travellers’ Choice’ results are based on millions of reviews & opinions from around the world.

Top 10 Beach Destinations in Europe
1. Oludeniz, Turkey
2. Icmeler, Turkey
3. Puerto Alcudia, Spain
4. Bournemouth, United Kingdom
5. Benidorm, Spain
6. Albufeira, Portugal
7. Antalya, Turkey
8. Playa del Ingles, Spain
9. Corralejo, Spain
10. Puerto Del Carmen, Spain

The Top 25 beaches in the world are as follows:
1. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
2. Palm / Eagle Beach, Aruba
3. Tulum, Mexico
4. Negril, Jamaica
5. Saint Pete Beach, Florida, USA
6. Boracay, Philippines
7. Cancun, Mexico
8. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
9. Miami / Miami Beach, Florida, USA
10. Varadero, Cuba
11. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
12. Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
13. Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
14. Oludeniz, Turkey
15. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
16. Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
17. Daytona Beach, Florida, USA
18. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
19. Lahaina, Hawaii, USA
20. Cayo Coco, Cuba
21. Marsa Alam, Egypt
22. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
23. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
24. Icmeler, Turkey
25. Puerto Alcudia, Spain

El Hierro volcano eruption process is ‘over’ according to scientists

Posted by Canaries News on March 5th, 2012

El Hierro sea surface 27th November 2011

Scientists have claimed that the submarine volcano eruption that commenced on the 10th October 2010 in the area of ‘Mar de Las Calmas’ located to the south of the island of El Hierro, has now finalised according to the scientific committee of Pevolca as reported in a press release today (Monday 5th March 2012). The Director General of Security and Emergency of the Canary Islands, Juan Manuel Santana, announced this statement after holding a meeting with Pevolca, whose members were unanimous on the end of the eruption process in this area.

However, Juan Manuel Santana has stated that the eruption continues to be detectable on El Hierro since the 19th July 2010, so it will continue the scientific surveillance on the island.

Las Galletas Half Marathon

Posted by lagenda on March 5th, 2012

Arona is hosting this year the 16th edition of Las Galletas Half Marathon. Athletes will start from Salazar González street racing the 21 kilometers and 97,5 meters of the track by TF76222, TF6225 and TF6221 to the finish line in Rambla de Las Galletas 1st of April. Las Galletas Arona

Source: webtenerife.com