Digital commerce continues to grow relentlessly. Last year, its revenue in the Canary Islands reached €3.54 billion, equivalent to 6.5% of the islands’ GDP.

Sergio Perdomo, a native of San Bartolomé and spokesperson for Felapyme, discusses in an interview with Ekonomus the measures being implemented to support physical store sales, such as Lanzarote Virtual and the Consume Lanzarote vouchers. He also addresses other issues, including the arrival of cruise ships, municipal beautification ordinances, and the planned strike during the upcoming Black Friday.

Lanzarote Shops Boost Online Sales

Perdomo acknowledges that the multitude of online platforms “harms local commerce,” but one of Felapyme’s strategies has been to assist physical shops in embracing electronic sales, which have witnessed substantial growth this year.

Two years ago, Felapyme launched Arrecife Virtual, a sales platform for the city’s commerce which “had fewer than 100 sales in its first year,” according to Perdomo.

Last year, the platform was rebranded as Lanzarote Virtual to include all local businesses, and “it has almost 500 sales already in 2025,” explains the Felapyme spokesperson.

In fact, the number of local businesses continues to increase in Lanzarote. “Last year, 50 businesses closed, but around 100 new ones opened,” shares Perdomo.

The Cruise Visitor Experience in Arrecife

Perdomo admits that the announced strike by retail workers for Black Friday could negatively impact businesses, as this period is second only to Christmas in terms of sales. “We must sit down to discuss and reach agreements to prevent the strike from happening,” he believes.

When asked about the economic impact of the large cruise ships arriving in the capital on Sundays, which brought 9,000 visitors on August 20, Perdomo insists that “it was felt by a minority of businesses, but the majority were closed.”

“The cruise situation needs improvement, particularly as Arrecife is somewhat disorganised. There is a need to repair streets, establish information areas for points of interest, and address the issue of closed establishments… Cruise visitors do not find the allure in Arrecife that would make them stay,” explains the spokesperson for Felapyme.

Beautification Ordinances and Consume Lanzarote

One of the strategies of the Arrecife council to make the city more attractive has been the development of new beautification ordinances, which will legally require businesses to adopt traditional construction and decorative styles of the island.

Although it is not yet mandatory, Perdomo confirms that some businesses are voluntarily adopting these principles. “For example, Siroco in the Plazuela.”

On the other hand, the initiative that Felapyme views “very positively” is Consume Lanzarote, which is organised in collaboration with the Cabildo.

The island’s first institution has invested €100,000 more than last year, resulting in 3,400 additional vouchers for a total of 12,900.

Each voucher is valued at €60. Half is provided by the Cabildo, and the other half by the customer.

“We hope to reach 300 participating businesses. Last year, there were 260,” shares the Felapyme spokesperson.