The Canarian Coalition, Popular Party, and Vox have successfully overturned the motion presented by the Socialist Group at the Tenerife Cabildo’s plenary session on Friday, urging the Canary Islands Government to implement a tourist ecotax for overnight stays, resulting in its withdrawal.
In response, they introduced a comprehensive amendment eliminating any mention of the ecotax. The Socialist Group’s President, Pedro Martín, accused the island Government of using “tricks” to avoid debate in a manner lacking in “political finesse,” refuting that charging for access to natural spaces constitutes an ecotax. He argued that the execution of such a tax would be challenging, particularly in the case of the Teide National Park, which has a road passing through it.
Martín directed his comments to the Island Council President, asserting that the proposed measure (charging for access to natural spaces) is not a tourist ecotax. He questioned, “Don’t millions of tourists who visit the Canary Islands and do not visit the protected areas exert pressure on the territory in the Islands?”.
Confronted with a proposal that “completely distorted” the socialist motion, the group had no choice but to reject it to prevent it from aligning with the stance of the Canarian Coalition, Popular Party, and Vox, who have vehemently opposed the ecotax’s approval.
Introduction of Fare for Access to Natural Spaces Approved
The CC, PP, and PSOE groups in the Cabildo of Tenerife reached an agreement on Friday, supported by Vox’s abstention, to approve a final fee effective from January 1, 2025, for providing services in Tenerife Island’s protected natural spaces to enhance their conservation and protection, along with conducting necessary preliminary studies.
This agreement, based on a motion by CC and PP, amended by the Socialists to specify a date, also includes promoting “more sustainable management” of natural spaces and implementing access control and quantitative restrictions based on their carrying capacity.
