Spains British Ambassador claims oil exploration will not damage British tourism

“What the British tourist can’t see, won’t bother them” claimed the British Ambassador in Spain while referring to the recent news of the authorisation of Repsol to carry out oil exploration off the coast of the Canary Islands. The British Ambassador in Spain, Giles Paxman, commented yesterday on the possible impact the Repsol oil activity will have on the British tourism industry in the Canary Islands: “I do not think that oil rigs within 60 kilometers of the coast of the islands will affect the willingness of British tourists to come to the Islands, I honestly do not see it. ”

Mr. Paxman also said that “For the British tourist, what they can’t see, will not bother them”. “The oil exploration which has been authorised by the Government of Spain will have no impact on the British market”.

%CODE1%

Mr. Paxman shunned the political debate between the Islands government and the State: “As ambassador, I will not enter the political debate about whether or not to perform drilling activities in the Canaries, this is a matter for the Islands authorities and the Government of Spain. ”

The Canary Islands receive more than 3.6 million British tourists every year, half of whom choose to Tenerife.