The Canary Islands government has expressed its support for the candidacy of the Almond Blossom Festival in Tejeda, Gran Canaria, to be recognised as an International Tourist Interest Festival. The Ministry of Tourism and Employment has approved the documentation submitted by the local council and has issued a favourable report necessary for the application to proceed to the General State Administration.
Jéssica de León, the Minister of Tourism and Employment, emphasised the cultural value of this celebration, stating, “The Almond Blossom Festival is a prime example of how a municipality can share its identity, landscape, and traditions with visitors. Its history and the interest it generates both within and outside of the Canary Islands justify our support for this candidacy.”
The festival, one of the most emblematic events in the island's festive calendar, takes place every February, coinciding with the blooming of almond trees that adorn the midlands and peaks of the municipality. Tejeda, which is part of the network of The Most Beautiful Villages in Spain, welcomes numerous visitors during this time, offering a programme that includes folklore, gastronomy, crafts, traditional trades, and other expressions of Canarian popular culture.
Established in 1970 by the Tejeda Youth Club, the festival has maintained its connection to the traditions and landscape of the area. It was recognised as a Regional Tourist Interest Festival in 2014 and received National Tourist Interest Festival status in October 2021.
The international candidacy is supported by various factors, including the festival's history and its ability to attract visitors from outside the Canary Islands, thus boosting the local tourism and economic activity while creating opportunities for sectors such as hospitality, commerce, crafts, and accommodation. Data from the municipal mobility report indicates that Tejeda welcomed 78,801 visitors last February, of whom 52.3% were international, with Germany, France, and the United Kingdom being the primary source markets.
