A HOME IN THE SUN

Recently billed as a “storm raging” about “the shocking”, but some would say accurate, portrayal of the seedier side of life in Gran Canaria, gave quite a few of us a good laugh recently.

Indignation and denial from the tourist board was the immediate reaction to the recent Spanish television programme broadcast, which was, according to the programme makers, intended to give an honest portrayal of the places that it visits – warts and all. However, I suspect that sensationalism rather than honesty was the most important thing on the producer’s mind during filming.

From sordid accounts of sex workers plying their trade to tourists, to swingers, drugs and rum drinking youngsters intent on forcing their charms on unsuspecting tourists reminded me of similar antics reportedly taking place in Ibiza and Majorca, as well as Blackpool, Brighton and Rhyl.

Well, it is all the stuff of good, seedy, summer television isn’t it?
Gran Canaria is a very popular holiday destination that appeals to many different age and interest groups. The island’s long established ‘live and let live’ attitude is one of the key factors in this island paradise that appeals to so many, and is the reason why many moved to this island.

As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else, anything goes, within reason, of course. Naturally, this view of life irritates and shocks some people, but I suspect that it titivates more than it offends the majority. There are few cities in Europe, including the UK, that doesn’t have sex workers, legal or otherwise; indeed, I suspect that a city that is drug, alcohol and swinger free is unique in Europe.

The tourist board of Gran Canaria, as well as some of its citizens, are said to be shocked by the recent revelations, fearing that the negative publicity will undermine the recent hard work that has gone into promoting the island as an international tourist destination.

As a firm believer in the saying that there is no such thing as bad publicity, I suspect that after a little fuss and hot air being blown by local politicians and priests, they have nothing to worry about in the long term.
On a more serious note, I recently received a request from a ‘television company’ asking me to participate in their offering for would be expats. Most readers will remember good quality programmes, such as “A Place in the Sun” aimed at helping would be expats to fulfil their dreams of expat life.

However, an endless and tedious succession of dubious ‘copycat’ programmes such as “Overseas Builders from Hell” and “Overseas Homes from Hell”, which delighted in publicising and exaggerating the demise of the expat who actually had the courage to fulfil a long held desire and dream of moving to another country. Of course, such programmes often fulfil that well-known and unfortunate British trait of knocking the successful, as well as the envy and jealousy of those who have something that they do not.

Such programmes are rarely worthy of airtime, and are usually low budget affairs made by one-off television companies established specifically for the purpose. Although they are often promoted under the respectable guise of BBC, ITV, Channel 4 etc, in reality they are nothing of the kind.

The programme’s ‘researchers’ usually do little more than contact local publications and businesses in their target area, asking for a list of likely people who would be willing to contribute to their programme. Most people are initially flattered by the request and will happily participate in such programmes, only to be embarrassed by the time that the programme is aired. I know several people who have contributed to such programmes, and who have later been horrified by the way that their contribution has been edited, or simply ignored, because it failed the sensationalism test that was considered essential to give the negative spin that the programme makers desired.

In my own case, careful questioning of the researcher, as well as the programme’s producer, revealed that they were looking to sensationalise the negative aspects of moving abroad, with a focus upon the possibility of losing everything should the euro collapse, yet another slant on the ‘land grab’ situation in Spain, as well as the collapse of the Spanish building industry. Needless to say, I declined their offer.

So if you are an expat in Spain, do be wary if you receive a phone call from someone in the UK who begins the conversation with “I’m from the BBC/ITV/Sky etc.” On a cold, wet, winter’s evening in the UK, I firmly believe that most people prefer a good news story, as well as something to feed their hopes and dreams of a life in the sun.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: www.barriemahoney.com and www.thecanaryislander.com or read his latest book, ‘Twitters from the Atlantic’ (ISBN: 978 1480033986). Available as paperback, Kindle and iBooks. iPhone/iPad Apps: ExpatInfo and CanaryIsle now available from the Apple Store.

© Barrie Mahoney

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/40878/

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