It manages the Tenerife municipality that executes its budget the most, with the highest investment per inhabitant in the Canary Islands, recognized for its transparency, key in the development of the region and with the challenge of completing the transformation undertaken in tourism, economy and employment that accentuates the closure of the Island Ring, generator of opportunities for the municipality.
Ends a convulsive term. Thomas Cook, covid-19, crisis… How did the municipality get to this moment?
Ready for transformation. We have projects underway, drafted, in preparation and in perspective and with financing. We have the tools to make this change in Santiago del Teide, for which we have been working for a long time, a reality.
What are the highlights of that process?
Mobility, sustainability, digitization to be more competitive and efficiency, not only in administration, but also in environmental terms. For example, in 2024 we will achieve zero discharge into the sea and we will build the Los Gigantes and Puerto de Santiago car park, which is linked to Playa de La Arena. On the coast, we are preparing to give pedestrians more prominence with actions that extend their presence in commercial areas to generate more economic activity. In the mediocrity, with Tamaimo as a commuter town, the demand is for services and for this we generate infrastructure and equipment, such as the imminent work that will provide the town with sanitation.
One of its investment premises is to modernize the resources and services…
We already started with 5G, with remote lighting management and with sensoring the entire municipality to improve services, for example.
There are still essential services to improve.
Yes. Despite the fact that in the previous mandate we tendered the cleaning, we have deficiencies that we will solve with the new tender that we schedule for this period.
At what point is the confluence of tourism with the rest of the municipality?
It generates activity in the upper area with products linked to nature, heritage, culture and traditions. The work has not been easy, but we have the involvement of the public.
Santiago del Teide is the first municipality in Tenerife in budget execution, the second in the Canary Islands…
With a municipal budget of 15 million, we got 14 for investment. Seven come from tourism sustainability funds to start the Los Gigantes car park, improve streets and solve fundamental problems related to basic services and implement 5G. And we already have a pre-approved subsidy to install photovoltaic energy in public buildings, another step towards efficiency. The amount of money we got in the mandate is a milestone for Santiago del Teide.
Is there a forecast of private investment in tourism?
We have just inaugurated a tourist complex in Los Gigantes and work will begin on another in June, at the entrance of that town, which will eliminate a structure abandoned decades ago. Pending the sectorial report of the Cabildo is a phase of another luxury complex, with 300 high-level beds that will mark the future of Los Gigantes. We are also waiting for the authorization of another 300 beds of this level in Puerto de Santiago. We add the reactivation of small and medium businesses that reopen establishments. This configures a scenario resulting from the investor’s confidence in an agile administration that leads him to bet on Santiago del Teide.
The covid cut short the speed towards full employment…
We started the mandate quite optimistic and with many projects, but the Thomas Cook crisis and the covid came behind. Santiago del Teide was an example of managing this health crisis in care and resources for residents, health and educational centers and for everyone in general. We developed a protocol that others copied. Everyone’s involvement was essential to overcome those two years. The covid changed everything and we started working on another line. European Next Generation funds help us move forward. We are one of the seven Canary Islands administrations that have obtained tourism sustainability funds, including councils.
Has employment been recovered?
The current unemployment is 5.3%, we are about to touch full employment. The policy municipal government, with support for the productive sectors, makes it possible for us to return to talking about almost full employment.
Is the objective of the next mandate the General Plan?
I said it four years ago, but the covid delayed us. The progress of the General Planning Plan is already very advanced and I hope that the municipality will have it in the middle of the new term. The fact of being surrounded by five parks conditions a lot, but we are focused on responding to the socioeconomic change that is going to take place in Santiago del Teide.
Is the closure of the Insular Ring key for the municipality?
Knowing in advance that this work will change the economic model of the hull, we went ahead and proposed a modification of the planning that is in the process of an environmental impact report. The town will have a sustainable and respectful growth with its idiosyncrasies, with green spaces, recreation, development, with solutions to mobility and a boulevard in the upper part. It will be essential to boost trade and to keep people wanting to live here.
You say that you manage an investment, transparent City Council…
Santiago del Teide is the Canarian municipality with the highest investment per inhabitant, 1,215 euros; complies with all performance audit parameters; it obtains a 10 out of 10 in transparency and the central government points to this City Council as the second in the Archipelago with the highest budget execution, 113.02%.
What Santiago del Teide hopes to deliver to his successor?
We have designed a municipality that is much more versatile, agile, modern, and with an incomparable tourist projection in the Canary Islands. We have the highest spending per tourist in the Archipelago. The public-private commitment to sustainability, with the highest levels of certification available, facilitates hiring. The fact that the Administration is agile when setting strategies and goes hand in hand with demand and the sector make Santiago del Teide one of the most competitive destinations in the Canary Islands.
