'major threat' to canary islands tourism on the horizon?

Tour operators have written to the Spanish government urging it to block plans to drill for oil off the Canaries, which they warn would harm tourism to the islands for ever.

Repsol, the Spanish oil and gas giant, has been given the go ahead to prospect for oil less than 40kms off the Coast off Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

The regional government of the Canaries has mounted a legal challenge to the decision because of the damage it will do to tourism, which is the islands' main source of income.

ABTA and the Federation of Tour Operators have also written to the Spanish government to protest.

Repsol intends to drill its first exploratory well in 2014 and if findings are positive to start commercial extraction in 2019.

Last weekend, several thousand people took part in demonstrations in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Tenerife against the plans.  

Source: TravelMole