Predictions for the island

[Fabian]

On Saturday they had two thermal cameras. After a few seconds an employee behind a computer told his colleagues if the passenger can pass the "control area" (a green button appeared on his screen if the temperature was below the limit).
After that another employee scanned the QR-Code.

[Robbo]

As regards a vaccine, the sense is that if developed & the signs are encouraging that it will, it may be as low as 50% - 60% effective so we will all have to learn to live with Covid, vaccine or no vaccine for the foreseeable future, my gut feeling for 2021 is many of those who are used to traveling every year will travel, some of those who fall into the high risk catogory may well decide not too, there is definitely a chunk of Covid fatigue out there and many are desperate for a break, me included

It's up to the governments & all other relevant agencies, service providers, airlines, hoteliers, bar & restaurant owners etc etc to ensure that foreign travel whether for business or leisure gets up & running as safely as possible, as soon as possible, they may as well because there is no cure coming

Wash / sanitise hands regularly - keep 1/2 meters apart - good cough & sneeze etiquette will still have to be done post vaccine  roll out

I think this is probably very close to the reality - we will have to learn to live with this, even beyond 2021. And that includes governments that automatically reach for lockdowns or other restrictions as a way of dealing with it. This virus isn't worth trashing the economies of Europe, it isn't worth the dashing of young people's life hopes and it certainly isn't worth the mental and physical torture 'the cure' is inflicting on the vulnerable. 

When 'the cure' costs society more than the problem, the balance isn't right.

[McAdam]

TL;DR
If Corridor = Good Winter Season
If No Corridor = More Pain

The islands will be hurt, and some are still hurting significantly.

From what I have experienced here, working weekly with small businesses:

Businesses that are solely serving the tourism industry have been hit so hard. Many have chosen not to open back up YET - if they do, they will have to give up all the tax reliefs and start paying all employees again. At this moment in time, there are simply not enough customers to cover expenses.
Other "Mom and pop" style tourism businesses (retreats, getaways, etc) simple don't have any customers. Peak season is from October to Feb, and if they don't get customers in the 2020/2021 season, they will close up shop.

About 20-25% of businesses that started in 2019 closed down completely with no intention of reopening.

Businesses that target mostly locals have seen customer numbers climb back to about 85% of previous, but most are spending about 30% less than before.
Large businesses that serve customers in the tourism sector are hovering in between these numbers. They have local customers, and local businesses, but many local businesses are cutting back expenses.

For a couple of months (July + Aug) many people were giving up their rentals, choosing to either rent cheaper, or leave the islands. October has seen an increase of rented properties.
AirBnB properties are suffering massively, with many owners choosing to long let so they at least have an income to cover bills/debts.

What I have seen that gives me confidence

The Canary government has been hard at work to prepare for whatever happens. I was laughing a month ago when I heard that they had taken out some odd one of a kind insurance policy against COVID.
Now I see how so many odd things they were doing could result in the Canary Islands having a one of a kind Tourism Corridor with anywhere in the world.

If the corridor does come into effect, I foresee that most airlines will do one of two things:
1. Have a single flight weekly(or biweekly) from each major airport they serve (Condor would do Berlin, Frankfurt, Dörf of the Dussel, Munich etc.)
2. Have one or two central hubs that they fly from multiple times per week - with more local intra country routing of passengers.

This would allow them to "fill" significantly more of a plane, leading to fewer cancellations.


If you are in it for the long haul (living in Fuerte) then things will change, you might need to find a new favourite bar restaurant or shop. The economy will get worse, but its only accelerating the worldwide economical decline that started a few years ago. You're living on Fuerte, Improvise, Adapt, Overcome - just like how we all got used to the glorious wind here


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These are my own opinions and observations from working with many small businesses here, Familiarity with the financial markets and main EU economies, knowledge of the local rental market (car and home) and the airline industry (more specific to Germany).

[Fizzy Lemonade]

Some positive news for travellers as regards Ireland so assume it will apply to many / all EU countries



https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/...-1.4387454

[Si Tie]

The Uk has opened up a corridor with the Canaries so hopefully things will pick up and the winter season could help save businesses and jobs

[Johnrgby]

The British government leaving the Balearics on the need to quarantine list will also help us, not good for them but not our concern.

[Fizzy Lemonade]

With no pre flight testing as yet AFAIK, I really hope it works out but a couple of asymptomatic passengers from countries with a high COVID rate who could have been caught before travel could potentially do a lot of damage to the islands tourism recovery but fingers crossed

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

With no pre flight testing as yet AFAIK, I really hope it works out but a couple of asymptomatic passengers from countries with a high Covid rate who could have been caught before travel could potentially do a lot of damage to the islands tourism recovery but fingers crossed

My feelings exactly FL.

[trex]

I know that there's a lot of brits here.. but this travel corridor.. cases are rising in the UK while there's not many cases in Fuerteventura is it such a good idea that UK starts to travel to Fuerteventura?

[Si Tie]

I know that there's a lot of brits here.. but this travel corridor.. cases are rising in the UK while there's not many cases in Fuerteventura is it such a good idea that UK starts to travel to Fuerteventura?

There is always a risk in everything.  The islands economy needs an injection or it could lead to many other related problems not least mental health.
I cant imagine how difficult it must be watching your business fold or lose your livelihood/job.