Spain had about 100,000 timeshare members in 2010. In the Canary Islands alone, the market generated around 220 million euros per year.

The average cost that each family paid was around 15,000 euros on average. Those who bought during week 13 (March), 40 (October) or any other week outside the traditional holiday period soon realized the trap, from which they could not get out. Many knew what they were buying and, furthermore, were fortunate enough to buy reasonably well. But many others were unaware of the fine print and continue to carry the feeling of guilt and shame for having been scammed, says Alberto Mondragón, president of Ascoe. The timeshare was a boom in the eighties and nineties of the last century, but it was later when it reached maximum levels. It is estimated that around 1.5 million people in Europe bought timeshares – it cannot be considered that everyone is affected. “There are those who have never used the apartment, have never been able to go,” says Ascoe’s president.