‘Educating Through Training’ will develop the Island Pact for Grassroots Sport on the island of Tenerife

The island of Tenerife is currently hosting the international training camp for the trail runners of the ASICS team, one of the world’s leading sports brands, which has chosen the island for the presentation of its 2022 roster. The event took place this morning at the Route Active Hotel in Los Realejos, where the Japanese company and the Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo), through Tenerife Tourism, announced the details of their joint collaboration to promote the routes and qualities of the destination for trail running and other sports.

The Island Director of Tourism, Laura Castro, stated that “the Island Council is specializing in sports tourism, and for this reason, we are presenting eight new trail running routes, including the well-known Tenerife Bluetrail, as well as the spectacular 040.” Castro pointed out that promoting these routes “helps us to restore trails and areas, which aligns with Tenerife Tourism’s sustainability strategy.” She added, “We want to be sustainable and environmentally friendly so that we can attract international athletes and also so that locals who want to practice outdoor sports can do so with complete peace of mind in the best outdoor setting in the world.”

The event also included speeches by Laurent Ardito, director of the ASICS international trail running team, as well as runners Anna Carlsson (Sweden) and Isaac Riera (Spain). Also present at the event were the other 20 athletes on the team, who come from countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Finland, Switzerland, Norway, and Russia, as well as members of the staff.

The runners will be on the island this week training and exploring everything Tenerife has to offer for athletes. The goal of the partnership with ASICS is to promote the island’s qualities for trail running, and in particular, eight specific routes that run through volcanic landscapes, coastal areas, pine forests, and laurel forests. These routes follow various sections of existing trails, specifically those that offer the greatest variety of scenery or the best conditions for trail training.

To raise awareness, several promotional activities are planned for March and October. Groups of four athletes from the team will return to the island during those months to complete the routes and document them with videos and photographs. This material will be used for promotional purposes by the runners on their social media, as well as by Turismo de Tenerife and ASICS. Similarly, the initiatives will receive international media coverage.

In addition to the eight trail routes mentioned, trail running enthusiasts also have a top-tier event that attracts thousands of participants each year: the Tenerife Bluetrail. Its route runs from the sea to Teide National Park and back to the coast, impressing runners with both its challenging terrain and the breathtaking scenery.

Additionally, there is Route 040, officially reopened in 2020 after extensive renovations. It boasts the greatest elevation gain of any trail in Spain, making it an iconic route nationally—and among the steepest in Europe.

Tourists Participating in Sports

According to data analyzed by the Tenerife Tourism Research Department, from January to September 2021 (pending final data for the last quarter of the year), at least one in three tourists who visited the island participated in some outdoor activity. This represents a 184% increase compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic.

Furthermore, almost 10% of travelers participated in water sports, which is nearly 5% more than those who practiced these sports in 2019. As for other sports activities, including running, these were practiced by 16.1% of all visitors to Tenerife, an increase of 30.3% compared to 2019.