SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, December 9. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Thirty local companies have renewed their adherence to the Tenerife Tourism Sustainability Charters after having passed the evaluation to which they voluntarily submit each year. Five other entities have also managed to integrate into these instruments, which implies their commitment to caring for the environment and respecting marine species in the development of their tourism activities in nature and whale watching.
The vice president and Minister of Tourism, Lope Afonso, has stated that Tenerife’s commitment to being a fully sustainable destination is “strong and consistent.” “We do it in all areas of destination management, but particularly also with the help of the main actors in the sector. We have destination management based on the principles of responsible tourism, sustainability, respect and care for the environment, something that our visitors particularly value and it is a formal commitment that has to do with responsible tourism practices from a business and public point of view,” he added.
Lope Afonso expressed his satisfaction that these companies have renewed their membership and demonstrated commitment to the Island, but that new companies are also joining “is a sign that this commitment remains firm and will grow.” “Our commitment to sustainability is unequivocal. We seek to make Tenerife finally a green destination,” she added.
The CEO of Tenerife Tourism, Dimple Melwani, also expressed her satisfaction with the result of the evaluation, “which reveals the excellent degree of compliance of the companies adhering to the Charters, as well as the growing interest of new ones in joining these instruments that seek to make tourism activity compatible with the premise of sustainability.”
Dimple Melwani added that this sustainable commitment is completely inserted in Tenerife’s strategy as a tourist destination, where they are looking for a traveler who contributes more to the destination and who values and is respectful of the environment, for which they must also appreciate the local public administrations. and in companies in the sector that alignment.
The communication of the results of the evaluations, carried out through the figure of the mystery client and audits, and which accredit the renewals, cancellations and additions to the charters, took place on November 28 and 29. At the Puerto Colón Nautical Club (Costa Adeje) for whale watching; and at the Tenerife Tourism headquarters for nature activities.
In the case of the companies of the Charter for the Sustainability of Activities in Nature, the 13 that were part of it have satisfactorily revalidated their membership, and two others, specialized in diving, have also managed to pass the entrance evaluation in the same . For their part, of the 18 companies integrated into the Charter for the Sustainability of Whale Watching Activity, 17 have achieved renewal, compared to one that has not.
In addition, three other new members, out of a total of four that had requested membership, have obtained it. Thus, the total number of boats that now have the Charter for Sustainability, which identifies the companies that adhere to it and thus carry out certified responsible sighting, is 35.
TOURIST EXPERIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
The Charter for the Sustainability of Whale Watching is a voluntary commitment by whale watching companies to respect the different species and the environment, while offering a significant and transformative tourist experience for the client.
Its objective is to promote sustainable and responsible tourism in a marine area of special sensitivity for the species that inhabit it and the habitat itself. In addition, it encourages responsible use by the companies that provide the service and by tourists who enjoy the activity by raising awareness among all the agents involved: companies, tourists, local people and public administrations.
In 2020, Tenerife Tourism presented the Sustainability Charter for Activities in Nature. This is a participatory project with the business sector and other areas of the Cabildo with powers in the territory whose main objective is, based on 15 points developed with the collaboration of the sector, to increase and improve the quality and sustainability in the activities carried out in nature through the balance between the tourist experience and the conservation of natural resources.