Lanzarote Tourist Survey 2012

The Cabildo of Lanzarote have released details of the Encuesta Turística de Lanzarote 2012, which was recently published on the Datos de Lanzarote website. The headline is that 42.1% of tourists who visited Lanzarote last year, came because of “low cost” flights.

The Tourist Survey is a study based on micro data obtained by the Instituto Canario de Estadística (ISTAC) who collected information on the social demographic profile of our tourists, the reason why they chose Lanzarote for their holiday destination, characteristics about their flight and accommodation as well as the level of their satisfaction and appreciation for different aspects of the island.

Low cost was the top reason given by 42.1% of tourists questioned for their reason why Lanzarote had been selected as their holiday destination, this figure is almost nine points above the average for the whole of the Canary Islands. Of those surveyed, 31.9% had booked package holidays to include flight and accommodation, closely followed by 31.6% staying in all inclusive accommodation. The survey revealed that all inclusive holidays have doubled during the last seven years.

In response to why the choice of Lanzarote 66.9% of tourists had visited the island before and 36.7% had decided on Lanzarote following a recommendation by family / friends. Equally important was the use of the internet as a source of information. Our fabulous all year round climate was the reason for 91.8% of tourists who visited in 2012, 45% came looking for a relaxing and tranquil holiday, whilst 26.6% came to enjoy our beaches.

The average stay in Lanzarote is 8.86 nights and the lowest average in the archipelago, this figure is compensated for by the good or very good impression of 85.4% of tourists after their holidays.

We also dug out these interesting facts from the survey:

More men visit Lanzarote than women (60.1% versus 39.9%)

Just over 50% of our tourists are aged from 25 to 44 years old (16-24 years 6.1% and 43.4% over 44 years old)

81.8% of visitors holiday here without children, 15.8% who come for family holidays have children aged from 2-12 years old

0.5% of tourists come to Lanzarote to play golf

Flight only holidays haven’t changed from 6 years ago, they still account for 8.3% of tourists. Flight & accommodation packages have dropped from 39.6% to 31.9% from 2006 to 2012. Half board packages have dropped from 23.5% to 16.5%, the biggest change is in the demand for all inclusive holidays which was only 15.7% in 2006 and now accounts for 31.6% of holidays in 2012.

The way flights are purchased has changed over the last six years, the travel agents have lost market share from 37.7% to 17.4%, internet sales have doubled from 4.6% to 8.3%, nearly half of our tourists still elect to buy their flights through tour operators at 49.9% or direct from the airline at 22.8%.

Accommodation is still purchased through tour operators by 42% of our visitors, travel agents account for 19.1% of our bookings although this was 35.9% back in 2006, again the internet has increased from 4.4% to 13.4% of holiday accommodation booked over the net and 16.3% book direct with the hotel / apartment complex.