Spain holiday warning over UK tourists being 'targeted' in Lanzarote and Tenerife

Canary Island holidaymakers heading to the likes of Lanzarote and Tenerife in the European Union have been warned over a number of "rogue" tour operators.
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A Spanish holiday warning has been issued over "pirate" tour companies targeting tourists. Canary Island holidaymakers heading to the likes of Lanzarote and Tenerife in the European Union have been warned over a number of "rogue" tour operators.

The Professional Association of Tourist Guides (APIT) issued the warning due to a number of concerns over the companies. The APIT shared a statement on social media to say ‘pirate’ tour companies are untrained, use unstable vehicles that are not licenced and may not be insured, meaning passengers won’t be protected if there is an accident.

It criticised the use of small tour vehicles, which it called ‘sardine cans’ and warned the operators are known to violate transport rules. APIT President, Natacha López-Braña, said: "They are people who offer their services on Facebook or elsewhere and they say they are guides, but they are not and the tourist is being deceived."

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"This paints an unacceptable picture for a destination like ours, where untrained individuals feed tourists falsehoods about our island. What quality do we want to give to the island when anyone comes and can work as a guide? What information is being given?"

Local media website Canarian Weekly said: “Sources in Lanzarote’s tourism sector have said that the problem is not confined to the island. Similar illegal operations are widespread throughout the Canary Islands, particularly during the high cruise season when ports see a significant influx of visitors."

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One Spanish tour guide wrote: "It is a disgrace to see all these 'pirates' who abound in many Spanish cities offering their tours. [They are] destroying the dignity, price, quality and a thousand other things of those of us who have studied and prepared to carry out with dignity this profession that we love."

The unlicensed operators pick up tourists from cruise ships in the port of Arrecife, in Lanzarote, offering guided itineraries. They also offer unregulated airport transfers.