Gran Canaria welcomes tourists with pets

The Gran Canaria Council is leading a project in collaboration with the tourism sector in which it hopes to turn the island into the first European destination that offers visitors to the island a comprehensive package of services to travel with their pets. The Minister of Tourism, Melchor Camon, explained that the idea was launched after learning that a French couple spent over €6,000 just on the care of their pets whilst on a holiday in Malaga and had requested the same services from a 5 star hotel in Maspalomas. The project, which is called ‘Gran Canaria Pets Welcome’ aims to capitalise on an important business niche for the tourism industry of the island, according to Mr. Camon, who pointed out that 40% of British people, and to a lesser degree, the French and German, have pets, and many of them had emphasised the importance of their family travelling with their pets.

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“With this initiative we are also collaborating with the campaigns of fighting against the abandonment of animals during the holiday periods,” added Mr Camon. He also pointed out that every day more residents of Gran Canaria want to be accompanied by their pets on holiday and that 20% of the population of the island has pets. There are nowe 39 establishments participating in the project, as listed in the website www.grancanariapetswelcome.com. The council aims to increase this number and also involve other sectors, such as taxis, so that tourists can experience a complete vacation with their pets. The Tourism website also reviews veterinary clinics on the island, among other services for tourists look after their animals.