GET UP TO DATE WITH WHAT'S HOT IN GRAN CANARIA AT THE TRAVEL CONVENTION
Date published: 20 June 2008The Gran Canaria Tourist Board is inviting delegates attending the Travel Convention on a choice of free excursions to be held on Monday 6 October. They have published three great itineraries for trips on the day before the Convention’s business sessions begin.
The island’s tourist board is very keen to show how the holiday experience in Gran Canaria has evolved since the 60s and 70s and what is on offer for today’s demanding traveller.
"Many of us think of beaches and bars when we think of Gran Canaria," said Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, "but there is a lot more on the island to offer today's discerning holidaymaker. Gran Canaria has kindly offered delegates free excursions which will ensure they are up to speed with the diversity of this already popular destination. It makes sense to maximise the learning opportunities the Convention offers and I'm certain that this year, with the way that we have designed the programme, delegates will be more than willing to enjoy these fantastic trips."
A Boat Trip around the South West Coast of Gran Canaria
Setting off from the picturesque and lively Port of Mogan towards the West of the Island, this trip sails alongside the imposing black cliffs for which this part of the island is well known. If you’re lucky, you may get to hop off onto a small dinghy and motor into one of the small caves that dot along the coast and it is even possible to catch a glimpse of dolphins. A truly relaxing way of spending a few hours.
Gran Canaria - A Continent in an Island
Just under half of the island (47%) of Gran Canaria is under protection and cannot be built on. UNESCO has also declared a large part of the west of the island a Biosphere Reserve. The roads across the mountains are not for the faint hearted, as hairpin bends scar the landscape like Zorro marks. These dramatic and mountainous landscapes sometimes take you above the clouds and are well off the beaten track. Smell the clean fresh air of the pine forests and find out about how a modern caveman lives!
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, pulsing to the beat of the island Capital
Founded in 1478, Las Palmas is the co-capital of the Canary Islands as well as the largest city of the islands. Las Palmas has been deemed to have the best climate in the world and was the destination of the first British tourist to the island over a century ago. The Vegueta is the old quarter, with some lovely old colonial buildings, and a number of lively restaurants and bars that will definitely appeal to those wanting to eat and drink in areas with personality. Delegates can sign up from the 1 July through www.thetravelconvention.com.
For further information
Sean Tipton, Communications Officer, tel: 020 7307 1902/1900
Frances Tuke, Public Relations Manager, tel: 020 7307 1903/1900
David Marshall, Head of Policy and Communications, tel: 020 7307 1912 Mobile: 07894 073010
Out of Hours: Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk
Web: www.abta.com
Notes to editors
ABTA was founded in 1950 and currently has over 1,500 members with 6,000 outlets. Members include travel agents, tour operators and support services right across the spectrum from small family-owned businesses to the largest tour operators.
ABTA is the largest travel association in the UK and its members provide 90% of the foreign package holidays in the UK as well as selling millions of independent travel arrangements.
As part of its comprehensive package of services to members, ABTA, as a non-party political organisation, also provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its Members to government and key opinion formers at the highest levels. In the UK, these include, government ministers, constituency MPs, Select Committee members, senior civil servants and members of the political opposition parties in both Westminster and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In Europe, ABTA is forming close ties with members of the European Parliament, the European Commission and staff within the Director Generals’ Secretariats. ABTA works in partnership with ECTAA (the European grouping of travel agents and tour operators’ associations) to lobby on interests relevant to its Members.
