RESORT TOWN RELEASES TOURISM FIGURES

ARONA, Monday January 25 2010

ARONA council published 2009 tourism figures for the south Tenerife tourist resort on Monday.

by JAMES TWEEDIE

Arona councillor in charge of tourism Ángel David Herrera said that almost 106,000 people had visited tourist offices in the municipality last year.

Mr Herrera said: "Despite the global crisis and the closure for refurbishment of some of the tourist service units, a statistical evaluation in the office is still positive."

Some 83 per cent were visitors from overseas, the remainder being Spanish nationals.

British holidaymakers remained the most numerous, making up 44 per cent of tourists in Arona. Some 15 per cent were from Germany and almost 6 per cent from the four Scandinavian nations.

On the basis of of visitors to tourist offices, Arona's most popular attraction appeared to be Playa de Las Vistas (pictured).

But Mr Hererra pointed out that currently there were only two tourist offices in operation - Playa de Las Vistas and Las Galletas - as the Playa de Las Americas office was being refitted after being awarded the 'Q' quality tourism certificate.

He added: "The tourist offices are a very important tool for tourism promotion and after sales service, and giving guidance to tourists once they have arrived at their destination.”

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