David Perez, CEO of Tenerife Tourism Corporation, on what awaits in Tenerife and its move to sustainability.
Travel Bulletin spoke to TTC's CEO regarding the destination's positioning moving forward and how agents can pitch the unique Canary Island.
"WTM is an important chance to present our diversity. We are one of the most diverse destination in the Canaries, from our architecture, our heritage, our nature, our gastronomy, our wines. Everybody knows about how great our beaches are, and we're now focusing on these other attributes. Inspiring new travellers is our key idea."
On sustainability, and Tenerife's Biosphere certification, Perez explained: "It's not just about the environment. It's about the social and economic health of Tenerife. That's very important for us, because the richness of tourism has to be shared with all the population to fuel progress of our island and community.
"We're preparing a photovoltaic plant that will be the only energy source for all the hotels here on the island. We're also trying to offer experiences that consider their carbon footprint."
On the importance of UK air connection, the CEO continued: "We've got the biggest connectivity in our history, with more than 300 flights per week. For example, with British Airways, there are 15 connections from Gatwick and three from Heathrow. That's important because we are a luxury destination, so that's very important for us."
Speaking on the destination's marketing plans for 2023, Perez elaborated: "We've got six profiles of consumers we're trying to target, and we're going to show the UK consumers our richness and diversity through social media, websites and direct B2C marketing."
Perez's personal recommendation for a must-do experience on the island is "watching the stars at night on Mount Teide, it's a window to the universe, a beautiful experience."
