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Spanish case of "foot in mouth."
Devastating volcano eruption can be used to lure tourists to Canaries, says minister
Tourism minister derided for suggesting La Palma volcano could lure visitors to Spanish archipelago
Lava sets a house ablaze in Los Llanos de Aridane, La Palma. About 5,000 people have been evacuated and scores of homes destroyed after a volcanic eruption. Photograph: Borja Suarez/Reuters
Sam Jones in Madrid @swajones
Mon 20 Sep 2021 21.07 AEST Last modified on Tue 21 Sep 2021 05.26 AEST
About 5,500 people have been evacuated and at least 120 homes destroyed after the eruption in the Cumbre Vieja mountain range, one of the most active volcanic regions in the islands.
Speaking on Monday morning, Reyes Maroto said the government wanted to reassure tourists already on La Palma – or heading there – that the island was still safe despite the eruption, which began on Sunday afternoon.
“We’re providing information so that tourists can travel to the island and witness something undoubtedly unprecedented for themselves. That information will let tourists know that the island is open and also whether their hotel has been affected so they can stay elsewhere and enjoy their holidays.
“We can also make the most of this as an attraction so that a lot of tourists who want to enjoy what nature has brought to La Palma can do so in the coming weeks and months.”
Lava erupts from a volcano on La Palma in Spanish Canary Islands – video
Maroto said the state tourism institute, Turespaña, and the country’s embassies “would provide all the necessary information so that the island can become an attraction for those tourists who want to see this wonderful natural spectacle in a prudent manner, because what we are worried about right now is the safety of citizens and tourists”.
Asked if La Palma could become a “volcano tourism” destination, the minister said the island “has a volcanic part to its tourist offer, and that could be an attraction we can make the most of”.
Maroto’s political opponents were quick to seize on her comments. “Minister, this is totally inappropriate!!!” said Agustín Almodóbar ..
: “Can someone confirm that the minister said this while hundreds of people are losing everything they have?”
Maroto sought to “clarify” her remarks later on Monday, insisting that the immediate focus was on working to help islanders deal with the consequences of the eruption.
“Today we stand with the victims and those affected, and we’re thinking about how best to get back to that normality that nature’s changed,” she said. “In the future – in the coming weeks and months, when this catastrophe has passed – we’ll think about how we can once again make the beautiful island of La Palma into a tourist area.”
According to the civil protection authorities, between 120 and 130 homes have been destroyed as a result of the eruption, which has not so far caused any injuries.
The volcano previously erupted in 1971, killing one man who was taking photographs near the lava flows.