Scots holidaymakers visiting the Canary Islands have been given an urgent warning over safety regarding illegal tours being offered to unsuspecting tourists.
The islands have long been a favourite destination thanks to its year-round sunshine and close proximity to the UK.
But tourists have been warned to be vigilant when booking sightseeing and activity tours as there are has been a rise in so-called ‘pirate tours’.
The Professional Association of Tourist Guides (APIT) in popular Lanzarote has said unlicensed operators are targeting visitors from the port of Arrecife where cruise ships dock.
They warned people are being offered guided tours despite not having the relevant and proper training or even licenses. And there have been reports of holidaymakers being put into vehicles that have worryingly been described as ‘sardine cans’, reports the Mirror.
Local newspaper Canarian Weekly told the APIT they have serious concerns that the island’s reputation as a ‘premium’ destination was being ‘tarnished’ as a result of these practices.
APIT President López-Braña said: “This paints an unacceptable picture for a destination like ours, where untrained individuals feed tourists falsehoods about our island.”
There are now calls on the local authorities to implement stronger measures to combat these illegal operations and to spread awareness to visitors. The advice is to only go with companies you know you can trust.
Lanzarote welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024 which was 6.1 per cent up on the year before.
Just a few months ago, the island was also rocked by a cybercrime that resulted in police warning tourists to ‘be vigilant’.
The crime was brought to the police’s attention after a victim noticed charges totalling €5,018 (£4,171) on their credit card at stores and online betting sites. The investigation was part of a larger anti-cybercrime operation being performed on the island.
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