Lanzarote and La Graciosa, through SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote, have launched their presence at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London with the goal of strengthening ties with the United Kingdom, a key market that in 2025 accounted for 51.1% of tourists aged 16 and over, with 1,466,123 visitors. These figures highlight the economic importance of this market for the island.
Air connectivity is another fundamental pillar, with a schedule of 16 direct routes and over 1.09 million seats planned between October 2026 and March 2027. The island's delegation, led by the President of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, is attending the fair, held from November 3 to 5, to hold professional meetings and institutional contacts aimed at a more sustainable destination model.
The opening day included participation from public and private sector representatives, including the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez Grau, and the Minister of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jéssica de León Verdugo. Oswaldo Betancort emphasized the historical relationship of trust with the British market, stressing the responsibility to improve the visitor experience and protect the island's natural and cultural heritage.
Turismo Lanzarote's strategy is part of the Awareness Strategy for Ethical and Responsible Tourism and the campaign 'Know, Respect, Enjoy', in addition to the first Master Plan for SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote 2026-2030. The CEO, Héctor Fernández, highlighted the importance of consolidating the commercial relationship amidst economic uncertainty and competition, aiming to generate greater economic and social value.
Among the planned highlights at the fair is the international presentation of the Salomon IRONMAN Lanzarote 2027, which will celebrate its 35th edition on May 15. An agreement with the European Travel Commission (ETC) will also be signed, and commercial relations with UK tour operators and airlines, such as Jet2 and British Airways, will be strengthened.
Lanzarote is also internationally promoting the World Charter for Sustainable Tourism +30, updated in November 2025, which advocates for regenerative tourism and the well-being of local communities, reinforcing the island's commitment to responsible tourism transformation.
