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By: Honor Arriciefe
Over a thousand delegates of the Association of British Travel Agents descended upon the Canary Islands recently to discuss the future of travel and discover the evolution of a one-time favorite quick, last minute travel destination.
In late November the Association of British Travel Agents held their annual convention in Tenerife, the largest of the seven Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. These Spanish isles are a popular tourist destinations for people in the United Kingdom and across the globe. Tenerife took center stage for the gathering, which was for many a reintroduction to a once familiar place.
Many of the delegates expressed surprise at the changes that had taken place in the locale, as quite a few had not stepped foot on the island since vacationing there many years prior. One particularly notable improvement observed is the dramatic change in Playa de las Americas. This holiday resort, built in the 1960's following the tourist boom in Tenerife in the 1950's, has experienced vibrant growth in recent years.
It has grown to include the best of what the island has to offer: vivacious nightlife, featuring numerous nightclubs and bars, as well as plenty of beaches, water sports and theme parks. The south region of the island is the most popular destination on Tenerife; it is hotter, has drier weather and the presence of resort hotspots like Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos.
The convention centered on the new, cleverly-named Magma Centre as all of the Canary Islands were formed from volcanic action. The innovative design of this center, a series of halls adaptable to various purposes and events, was praised by attendees for its astonishing structural design and outstanding amenities.
In addition to the eye-catching surroundings, expert speakers addressed industry-relevant issues. 'Reduce My Footprint' - a system to offset the impact travelers have on their destinations, was launched by the ABTA in tandem with AiTO during the convention. Another discussion brought up for debate was that of families spending less time together, not using Tenerife Airport as much and taking fewer Tenerife flights.
To allow for a more involved and relaxed experience of Tenerife, organizers of the convention employed a more informal design. The window of opportunity broadened further when participating hotels provided myriad experiences for all tastes, allowing participants to gather a full flavor of Tenerife to pass on to customers back home.
ABTA visitors were informed that Tenerife is more than the beautiful natural qualities of sunshine year round over a diverse landscape. They were also encouraged to take in the extraordinary food and wine choices, trendy clubs and lively bars. There is no shortage of daytime activities as well; such as water parks, golfing or whale watching.
Due to the nature of a more variable travel market, tourism has taken a dip for Tenerife. Many who attended the conference have an optimistic outlook for 2008, however. The pervading view on travel lag is that the current economic climate, increased environmental concerns and prevalent airport pandemonium will have an impact, but none of these factors will mean disaster. In fact, a high percentage of Internet pollsters reveal plans to research travel destinations or book trips online in the next year. Tenerife appears poised to become a sunny-side selection for UK residents seeking out a holiday or a last minute vacation.
The Canaries are in the running again for this year's ABTA convention alongside Tunisia and China. The featured isle for 2008 would be, if chosen, Gran Canaria.
Villa holidays, flights plus details of villa companies offering deals on Tenerife villa holidays can be found at YourTenerife.net The guide also includes airport information, hotels and for last minute hotel reservations cheap Tenerife hotels and other travel packages.
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