On September 19, 2021, an eruption began in the small town of El Paso in the Canary Islands, which will last for three months. Nearly a year later, mountains of ash continue to cover the area around La Palma volcano. Teodoro González walks through a forest covered in volcanic debris. “It’s like walking on a new planet”breathes this hiker.
When this volcano, now called Tajogaite, not Cumbre Vieja as it erupted last year, woke up last year, the 54-year-old nurse rushed to the small island of La Palma to see the burning lava flows with her own eyes. A year later, he returned, this time to admire the extinct volcano. “Seeing a recently erupted volcano is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”explains the 50-year-old man who came from the neighboring island of Tenerife.
Since the eruption began, which ended 85 days ago on December 25, tourists have flocked to explore these lunar landscapes. And interest in La Palma, until then one of the lesser-visited islands of the Canary archipelago, has grown ever since.
Growing interest in the island
According to the data of the Ashotel hotel organization, the average employment level of the island’s enterprises reached 90.9% in August. A much higher number than expected. “Before the eruption, we had a hard time making ourselves known.”explains Carlos García Sicilia, Vice President of Ashotel. “Of course, the volcano was a great misfortune, a blow to the island’s economy. But I think half the planet has already heard of La Palma.”.
Nicknamed “La Isla Bonita” (“The Beautiful Island”), La Palma is home to unspoilt nature, including lush forests, rocky peaks and desert landscapes. It has been declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
“Of course, the volcano was a great misfortune, a blow to the island’s economy. But I think half the planet has already heard of La Palma.”
Carlos Garcia Sicilia, Vice President of Ashotel
Choice assets that tour operators intend to highlight. Thus, the number of cruise ships arriving at La Palma has increased in recent months, as have the number of direct flights from mainland Spain and Europe. Low-cost airline Ryanair opened a base on the island in March.
Excursiones Jesus, a group that offers day trips by ferry from Tenerife, the most visited island in the Canary Islands, now offers three trips a week, compared to just one before the eruption. “People want to get as close as possible to the place where the eruption happened.”– emphasizes the founder of the company, Jesus Molino.
Travel vouchers were distributed
Among the tourists flocking to the island are regulars like Rita Lei, a 59-year-old German retiree who came to see what La Palma looks like after a year. “It’s difficult because everything was destroyed.”Lava flows swallowed more than 1,000 homes. “but it’s interesting to see that the Earth is alive”He says.
For the government, which has handed out 20,000 €250 worth of travel vouchers to Spaniards that can be used in hotels and restaurants, tourism is seen as a way to boost the island’s economy. To enhance its appeal, a giant zip line opened in the north of La Palma, as well as a visitor center at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory.
The authorities are also helping to rebuild tourism infrastructure. Of La Palma’s 8,000 tourist beds, 3,000 have been destroyed by lava or are in restricted areas due to the persistence of dangerous volcanic gases. But will these efforts allow a lasting presence of tourists on the island? In recent years, after eruptions in Hawaii and Iceland, there has been a surge in visitors, but the phenomenon has died down.
A situation that the industry fears in La Palma. Volcanic eruption “It won’t stay fresh in people’s memory” next year, and the island is sure to be “not so popular”predicts Isla Bonita Tours founder Jonas Perez.
Source: Le Figaro
