The ITB (International Tourism Bourse) in Berlin 2026 concluded today with a strong commitment to sustainability, highlighting the significance of conservation policies for local habitats in tourism destinations. This commitment is embodied in a complete renewal of the airline fleet aimed at reducing CO2 emissions, aligning with other initiatives being developed in Fuerteventura and currently under discussion.
Marlene Figueroa, the Tourism Minister of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, emphasized, “The German tourism sector is leading the way, showcasing concrete actions towards more sustainable tourism. This creates a favorable scenario for implementing an ecotax in Fuerteventura, specifically aimed at financing environmental conservation and ongoing education in sustainability.”
Figueroa notes, “The ecotax is a financing tool, not a generic revenue-generating measure.” She explains, “It’s a targeted instrument to protect what differentiates us as a destination and to conserve the quality of life and socio-economic progress in Fuerteventura.”
Currently, German airlines have announced a temporary reduction in their flight offerings to all destinations, including a -6 percent decrease towards Fuerteventura this summer and an -8.6 percent decrease for the Canary Islands. This is part of their fleet renewal process.
Once the renewal is completed, German airlines will fully resume their activities with aircraft that conform to European CO2 emission guidelines. This not only enhances their offering but also allows the destinations they serve to leverage and communicate environmental measures like an ecotax, further reinforcing their image as sustainable destinations.
On the final day of ITB Berlin, a delegation led by the Tourism Board, with on-site support from the municipalities of La Oliva and Pájara, alongside representatives from local businesses with interests in the island, continued its agenda. Their schedule included meetings with international tour operators such as Naomi van Hagen (a Dutch travel blogger and content creator linked to the travel website Travander), Fly Edelweiss, Travel Diaries, and TLVG Tourismus Lifestyle.
In the days preceding the final event, the delegation maintained professional meetings with Jet2.com, Jet2holidays, Granicus, Thalasso Nº1, Itaka, Minube, Edreams, Travel Marketing, LegendsTour, Expedia Group, Viajes All Sun, TUI Group, Travel Zoo, FVW Medien, AnexTour, and Holiday Check. They also participated in the Canarias EU-prime promo event and attended the Regenerative Tourism Commission organized by the Government of the Canary Islands through Promotur.
It’s important to highlight that the German market, along with the British market, is one of the foundational pillars for tourist destinations in the Canary Islands and specifically in Fuerteventura. In 2025, Fuerteventura welcomed 784,752 German passengers and currently maintains regular flights from Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, and Cologne.
