Tourists (mainly well-to-do British) began coming to Tenerife in significant numbers towards the end of the last century. At that time tourism was centred around the northern resort town of Puerto de la Cruz and, to a lesser extent, the island's capital Santa Cruz. Both towns boasted a handful of grandiose hotels, the most popular being the Grand Hotel Taoro in Puerto de la Cruz. Built in 1892, it was badly damaged by fire some thirty years later, and finally converted into the island's biggest gambling haven - Casino Taoro - in 1975. Today the casino is still one of the biggest in Spain.
Even a hundred years ago, Tenerife was famous for its year-round mild climate. But the big boom in tourism began in Tenerife, as in other major international holiday destinations, with the advent of affordable air travel, literally cutting days off boat journey times to places farther afield like the Canaries, and broadening the opportunities for holidaymakers all over Europe.
As foreign tourism increased, mostly from Europe, the demand specifically for 'sun, sand and sea' (and anything else beginning with 's'!) holidays increased and this gave rise to the development of resorts in the south of the Island, were the weather is generally better. Los Cristianos grew from a small fishing village to a major tourist centre, thankfully still retaining the 'old town' as it's heart. Las Americas, in contrast, had no such historic beginnings - it simply rose from a barren expanse of dry land next door to Los Cristianos, to become the island's premier holiday destination, with hotels, facilities and beaches being constructed (and still under constuction!) to meet the ever-growing demand.
The Canaries these days play host to over seven million holidaymakers per year and on Tenerife alone you will find British, German, Russian, Dutch, Scandinavian, French, Italian and, of course, Spanish among the many nationalities topping up their suntans on the beach under the relentless sun, for which the islands have become famous.
Even a hundred years ago, Tenerife was famous for its year-round mild climate. But the big boom in tourism began in Tenerife, as in other major international holiday destinations, with the advent of affordable air travel, literally cutting days off boat journey times to places farther afield like the Canaries, and broadening the opportunities for holidaymakers all over Europe.
As foreign tourism increased, mostly from Europe, the demand specifically for 'sun, sand and sea' (and anything else beginning with 's'!) holidays increased and this gave rise to the development of resorts in the south of the Island, were the weather is generally better. Los Cristianos grew from a small fishing village to a major tourist centre, thankfully still retaining the 'old town' as it's heart. Las Americas, in contrast, had no such historic beginnings - it simply rose from a barren expanse of dry land next door to Los Cristianos, to become the island's premier holiday destination, with hotels, facilities and beaches being constructed (and still under constuction!) to meet the ever-growing demand.
The Canaries these days play host to over seven million holidaymakers per year and on Tenerife alone you will find British, German, Russian, Dutch, Scandinavian, French, Italian and, of course, Spanish among the many nationalities topping up their suntans on the beach under the relentless sun, for which the islands have become famous.
0 comments:
Post a Comment