Plenty of pre christmas cheer here in Tenerife with good news updates on 2 previous stories. Firstly going back to September we told you how the beach improvement project for Callao Salvaje had been approved and was ready to start in November. Running just a few weeks behind schedule the first new sand was depositied on Playa de Ajabo on 14 December during the inauguration ceremony.

This is the main stage of the 1.2 million euro project and the new revamped beach should be ready for use in July 2011, this will include new beach kiosks, sun beds and life guards. Then later after the 15,200 square metre beach is in full swing, the coastal walkway will be completed making it possible to walk from Callao Salvaje to Playa Paraiso. It’s all great news for visitors to Sueño Azul one of the many well placed Wimpen resorts.

Beach promenade walks seem to bring out the best in people, on Sunday 12 December The Walk For Life for breast cancer took place and was again a great success. The 3.5 km route from Salytien in Playa de Las Americas to the Plaza de la Pescadora in Los Cristianos was packed with well over 1,000 walkers who raised 13,631 euros. A group of swimmers took the sea route and pink was the dominant colour for all those showing support for this great cause. One of the many pleasing aspects of the walk was the way it drew together the British and Spanish communities, Tenerife is always a great place to make new friends.

What a timely boost to the Canary Islands, Ryanair have announced a 400 million euro investment to establish bases in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. This will mean increased routes using the 7 Canary Islands, 35 routes in all and means the low cost flights company will be bringing in 4.5 million passengers a year.

It will start with new bases at Tenerife (Reina Sofia) and Gran Canaria (Las Palmas) airports in February 2011 and Lanzarote (Arrecife) in March 2011, there is also the possibility of a base in Fuerteventura. All this is the result of intensive work by the airport authority AENA and the Canaries government (Gobierno) led by President Paulino Rivero. The good news may not end their, talks are still going on with Air Berlin and Easyjet to lure them to make a home in the Canary Islands.

The investment will give a bigger choice of cheap flights from the UK and direct flights to more destinations in mainland Spain. All this should help to maintain the Canaries position as the top destination for all year round sunshine.