| The Island of Tenerife, the largest in the group of | | | | stresses across the world are bound to have a |
| the Canary Islands, has made its own fortune based | | | | significant impact on Tenerife if visitor numbers |
| on it main assets of climate, culture, history and | | | | continue to struggle as they have in the first part of |
| geography. The island, which is part of Spain but is | | | | 2009. Favourable taxation in the form of lower levels |
| located much closer to the west coast of north | | | | of IVA (a VAT equivalent) keeps prices lower but |
| Africa, is a mix of volcanic mountain terrain and | | | | that may not be enough to keep tourists level from |
| spectacular coastlines blessed with year-round mild | | | | the UK at usual levels while Sterling is now very |
| weather and sunshine. | | | | weak against the Euro. |
| The trade winds of the Atlantic, minimal rainfall and | | | | Putting financial concerns aside, Tenerife has features |
| warm waters make Tenerife almost the perfect | | | | that make it a fantastic tourist destination. Areas in |
| year-round destination for tourists from all over | | | | the south of the island regularly experience over |
| Europe and perhaps beyond. | | | | 2500 hours of sunshine annually, which equates to |
| Residents of the island are very reliant on tourism | | | | almost 7 hours every day. Very few locations in the |
| but there are other industries that contribute to the | | | | world can match that level of sunshine and certainly |
| island's economy including agriculture which extends | | | | in Europe, Tenerife stands almost alone as a |
| to various crops and also wine making. The tourism | | | | year-round holiday resort. |
| that generates more than half of the islands | | | | The capital of the Island is Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| economy is fairly diverse, although the beaches along | | | | buts it shares overall governance of the Canary |
| Tenerife's coast and long days of warm sunshine | | | | Islands with Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria. |
| make relaxing by the sea the primary type of | | | | Being located in the north of the island, away from |
| vacation offered. However activity holidays are also | | | | the primary holiday resorts in the south, Santa Cruz |
| very popular, especially during the winter months | | | | escapes the poorer aspects of purpose-built holiday |
| when other locations make outdoor pursuits | | | | areas and retains its own interesting architecture with |
| unpleasant due to cold wet weather. These pursuits | | | | plenty of attractive squares or Plazas to investigate. |
| include walking, hiking, climbing, cycling, windsurfing | | | | Beaches on Tenerife take all forms and there is a |
| and sailing. | | | | tendency for many now to have their sand shipped |
| The island also has a wealth of history drawing on | | | | in artificially. The almost black volcanic sand is not well |
| African origins through to Spanish rule which started | | | | liked by tourists and many prefer the typical golden |
| in the fifteenth century. The strength of the Spanish | | | | soft sand found in other countries and shipped across |
| combined with the island's remote location and the | | | | to the island from the Sahara Desert. |
| relative weakness of any invading force from Africa | | | | Mount Teide, in the centre of the island, is a dormant |
| has kept the island under Spanish control ever since. | | | | volcano rising to a height of over 3700 metres and is |
| Tenerife, along with the other islands in the group, | | | | the highest mountain in the whole of Spain. Other |
| was formed from volcanic activity around 40 million | | | | peaks nearby have reported volcanic activity with |
| years ago and has similar origins to other islands | | | | the most recent being exactly 100 years ago on |
| around the world on the similar latitudes like the | | | | Mount Chinero. Visitors to Mount Teide can either |
| Azores. The fertile volcanic soil allows farmers on the | | | | walk up the mountain, which can take a full day or |
| island to grow a wide variety of crops including | | | | use the Cable Car to travel all but the final 200 |
| bananas, tomatoes, coffee, oranges and dates. | | | | metres. |
| Potatoes and cereal crops also do well at higher | | | | Getting to Tenerife can only really be done by flying, |
| altitudes where there is more cloud and conditions | | | | with different airlines offering flights direct or via |
| damper. | | | | Madrid for long haul start points. The main airport on |
| While tourism is the major contributor to the islands | | | | the island is Reina Sofia Airport located in the south. |
| economy all is not rosy under the surface. | | | | The island can be reached by boat, although the only |
| Unemployment across the Canary Islands is high at | | | | ferry from Europe sails from Cadiz in Spain just once |
| more than fifteen per cent and the receipt of | | | | a week and does get fully booked in the summer. |
| additional funding every year from the EU makes its | | | | There are inter-island ferries four times a day to take |
| financial future quite unstable. The current financial | | | | passengers to Gran Canaria. |