The Council of Tenerife confirmed this Thursday the existence of a consignment of 5.9 million euros from Next Generation European funds to finance two tourism sustainability plans in the Anaga Biosphere Reserve and in the Teno Rural Parklocated on the Isla Baja.
Both plans contemplate various strategic lines related to the offsetting the carbon footprint of the tourism sector, improving mobility or digitization, promoting gastronomy, biodiversity and culture, improving roads and trailsas well as research and analysis for the conversion and competitiveness of the destination.
The acting island president, Peter Martinexplains: «The creation of new tourist products based on natural and cultural values, together with the development of strategic infrastructures such as the insular network for bird watching, the first phase of which has recently been awarded, will promote sustainable tourism that is respectful of our natural heritage”.
The two projects are integrated into the Territorial Sustainability Plan for Canary Islandsin the extraordinary call of 2022 and within the framework of the European Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
The Teno Rural Park plan will have a financing of 2,881,397 euros. The objective is to improve the profitability and competitiveness of this rural destination by strengthening SMEs and tourism professionals that operate, generating opportunities for employmentthe redistribution of tourist income and the preservation of natural and cultural resources.
Among the performances, the improvement of the trail networkthe placement of equipment for bird watching, the conditioning of the old Teno Lighthouse as a visitor center, the installation of photovoltaic panels and charging points for electric vehicles and the promotion of digitization in communication and services through of intelligent tourist signage.
In the Anaga Biosphere Reserve and Rural Park the investment will be 3,052,819 euros. Among other issues, the adaptation of Casa de los Zamorano for use as a tourist office and interpretation center is included; the modernization of the Cruz del Carmen Visitors Center; the improvement of trails and roads, and the installation of equipment for bird watching.
The creation of a digitization system to monitor the tourist impact, the drafting of a sustainable mobility plan, as well as another environmental volunteer action for the participation of residents and visitors in the conservation of the natural environment, the culture of area and economy of their companies.