Mood barometer of Gran Canaria

Mood barometer of Gran Canaria

As many island lovers are unfortunately not on Gran Canaria at the moment, I would like to report in today's blog entry about the mood I feel. Since we can move around freely here and the shops and bars are open in large numbers, there are always extensive conversations. Be it with friends, customers, people who spend the winter here in Gran Canaria, tourists or business people such as restaurateurs, hoteliers, craftsmen or even my professional colleagues.
Now, everyone will be able to imagine that the moods and economic situations differ. We see this not least in the never-ending discussions about Corona, the measures to contain it and the accompanying political decisions. People who are not on the island at the moment may assume that the island is already sinking, because the worldwide news about travel/flight and tourism is not so promising.
I would like to start with my own situation and mood, which was already very volatile. In March and April, I already thought that the year 2020 would be professionally over and that no one would come to the island for the time being. Fortunately, things turned out differently than expected and I was at least busy here and there, of course much less than before. There were at least a few sales and the odd rental.

The summer, on the other hand, was really good, because some tourists and also clients did come to the island to look for property. When the news of the vaccine breakthrough came, enquiries about real estate increased noticeably. Prospective buyers are once again looking for investment opportunities and do not want to simply leave their money in the bank. Added to this is the European Central Bank's long-standing low interest rate policy and the great popularity of the Canary Islands.

Of course, I also miss travelling and the mask will never become a true friend, but one has become a little accustomed to it. However, having the nice weather, open shops/restaurants, the beach and the mountains at our disposal, I can't complain and feel really good despite Corona. Unfortunately, however, this is not the case for everyone on the island, some people, business people, restaurateurs and bar owners are plagued by existential fears and give everything for their economic survival. (Unfortunately, this affects many countries and regions in the world).
Various shops are doing quite well despite financial losses, because the native Canarios, the residents and wintering tourists still provide some turnover. Many craftsmen can't save themselves from work, a lot is being modernised at the moment, you can feel a real spirit of optimism here and there. The municipality is also investing in roads and infrastructure. At the moment, the GC-500 between Playa del Inglés and San Agustín is being extensively redesigned, various large hotels are being renovated and embellished. There will very definitely be a time after Covid-19, I even expect a very strong winter season on the Canary Islands. Many people are already booking rental properties for the coming winter of 2021/22, especially after this uncomfortable, wet winter with lots of snow and little sun. Tourists who have come to the island despite all the circumstances are enjoying their time and are happy to be here. As of today, we have an incidence of 12 infected people per 100,000 inhabitants in our municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, which includes Maspalomas, Meloneras, Playa del Inglés and San Agustín, among others. People generally stick to the rules, so we have a high degree of freedom compared to other regions or countries. I can only recommend everyone to come to the island, escape the uncomfortable winter and spend time here in Gran Canaria. There are some hotels open, the prices are lower than usual and the quality of life is still high. You might find a nice buy/rent property during your stay to enjoy Gran Canaria even more. We all miss the normal life! Let's stay positive, stick together and meet again soon, safe and sound.

Maybe the beautiful photos will give you a little bit of anticipation. :-)