Posthumous Book Traces Canary Islands Tourism to English Expeditions

The Department of Culture of the Gran Canaria Island Council has released a new book by the late Tenerife historian Nicolás González Lemus. Titled English Scientific Expeditions in the Canary Islands and the Origin of Tourism, the book was published after González Lemus passed away in February 2024. Launched last Wednesday at the Casa de Colón in Gran Canaria's capital, the work explores how various expeditions, especially those from England, visited the Canary Islands and the wider Macaronesia region. Naturalists and doctors on these trips often wrote about the islands' pleasant climate. Over centuries, these visits transformed the Canary Islands from a simple stopover into a major tourist spot.

This new book follows González Lemus's earlier work, Victorian Travelers in the Canary Islands, published by the Gran Canaria Island Council in 1998. In his introduction, the historian points out that while tourism in many parts of the world took off after World War II, the Canary Islands' unique location in the Atlantic meant it began much earlier, in the second half of the 19th century. He even suggests that for many sailors, journeys to the islands in previous centuries were already a form of tourism.

He argues that every trip to the Canary Islands has shaped its tourism. Therefore, in the Canary Islands, tourism and travel are inseparable, as Atlantic navigation throughout history paved the way for the industry.

The 300-page book has 19 chapters plus a conclusion. González Lemus, who studied tourism's history from the time of Columbus and European expansion, believes the Age of Enlightenment was the true beginning of tourism in the Canary Islands.

While the Macaronesian islands were visited for trade, smuggling, or piracy, they also served as crucial supply stops for most European ships heading to the South Seas, America, or the East in the late 18th century. Ships often docked in island ports because of affordable goods, excellent wines, and, in Tenerife, the chance to climb Mount Teide, which many explorers wanted to do.

After the Seven Years' War ended with the Treaty of Paris on February 10, 1763, scientific expeditions to the Pacific began. These voyages, continuing into the 19th century, were vital for the birth of tourism, particularly in the Canary Islands more than Madeira. At this point, visits became less about quick stopovers and more about reaching a specific destination.

González Lemus explains that the English were pioneers in European travel, undertaking what was known as the "Grand Tour." Initially for study, by the 18th century, it was often for health reasons. When political situations forced them to leave continental Europe in the early 19th century, they looked to islands in the Atlantic. They first chose Madeira, partly for historical ties, after ruling out the distant British Antilles. Later, as steam travel improved and the Canary Islands' climate was recognized as superior for health, they shifted their focus there. He concludes that the Grand Tour was a direct precursor to tourism in the Canary Islands, driven largely by the search for better health.

González Lemus divides the history of tourism in the Canary Islands into four main stages:

1. 14th to 17th centuries: From the time of conquest and Atlantic expansion, focusing on commercial travel.
2. 18th and 19th centuries: Characterized by expeditions and adventurous journeys, marking the start of modern tourism (or "prototourism").
3. Late 19th to mid-20th centuries: The era of contemporary, therapeutic, and elite tourism.
4. Modern day: The rise of sun-and-beach tourism and the growth of mass tourism.

The book features many famous travelers, including James Cook and Alexander von Humboldt. It also highlights doctors and scientists like Brian Melland, William Marcet, Ernest Hart, and Morell Mackenzie, whom Lemus credits with laying the groundwork for tourism in the islands.