The Ministry of Tourism and Employment of the Canary Islands Government has expressed strong disapproval and opposition to Aena, the airport manager’s decision, to raise airport taxes by 4.1% starting from March 1, 2024.
Jessica de León, the area’s councillor, believes that this increase will adversely affect the competitiveness of tourism in the Canary Islands. She also rejects the hike, considering the significant profits generated by the public body from January to June, which amount to a gross operating result of 1,170.3 million euros.
In the words of Jessica de León, “We are deeply concerned about any tax that drives up costs and diminishes our competitiveness. This decision is unfavorable for the Canary Islands as it will raise the costs of the tourist product, making air travel more expensive for consumers who are increasingly price-sensitive when planning their trips.”
Furthermore, De León has advocated for the inclusion of the Canary Islands in the Board of Directors of Aena, considering the pivotal role of air transport for the archipelago and its reliance on connectivity.
The tourism sector in the Canary Islands has shown promising growth, with summer arrivals rising by 3.4%, and winter air seats increasing by 35% compared to 2019 and 8.8% compared to 2022. Nonetheless, if Aena proceeds with the tax increase, it could seriously hamper the tourism strategy of the Canary Islands, emphasized the minister.
