The Santa Cruz Government Board, led by Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez, has been briefed on the reports submitted by the municipal services regarding objections to the Vacation Rentals Law, officially known as the Law on Sustainable Management of Tourist Accommodations. The Board has approved the submission of these objections to the Ministry of Tourism and Employment of the Canary Islands Government for review, “as we believe that there are crucial issues for our municipality that need further clarification in this legislation,” stated the councillor.
Bermúdez highlights that “one of the main objections raised concerns the challenges we foresee in implementing zoning regulations as outlined in the initial proposal, as well as the lack of consideration for how holiday rentals impact sustainable mobility.” He further emphasizes the necessity to ensure financial support for its implementation by providing funds to local authorities to address the costs arising from the required changes in planning regulations and additional responsibilities imposed on the municipal councils.”
One of the objections states that “the transition of areas originally designated for residential purposes to intensive tourist use poses a significant challenge, similar to converting tourist establishments into areas initially planned for residential purposes,” noted the Mayor, who believes that “this issue is critical due to the changes in mobility patterns associated with each type of land use.”
“Hence,” José Manuel Bermúdez explains, “when a residential zone transforms into a bustling tourist destination, there is a substantial increase in the flow of people, vehicles, and services, leading to potential strain on the existing infrastructure and congestion on access routes and public transportation.” He adds that “the opposite scenario, where a tourist zone is transformed into a residential area, could result in decreased demand for tourist services, disrupting the flow of people and vehicles in the designated area.”
Therefore, it is recommended by the City Council’s Mobility and Accessibility Service that the legislation should include provisions ensuring that competent authorities develop appropriate planning and regulations concerning mobility, adapting to changes in land usage, whether transitioning from residential to tourist areas or vice versa.
Urban Planning Councillor Zaida González, among the objections forwarded to the Ministry of Tourism in the Canary Islands Government, highlights that “the issue of financial sustainability for the effective enforcement of the law is paramount, as the initial proposal places significant emphasis on urban planning as the primary mechanism to regulate tourist accommodations in municipalities.” She points out that “the proposed zoning alterations entail modifications to existing planning regulations, resulting in a considerable financial burden for the municipal councils.”
Lastly, Bermúdez recalls that “the legislation concerning municipalities in the Canary Islands stresses the necessity of financial viability to address the new responsibilities allotted to municipalities by the laws that, as we interpret, include additional financial obligations.” He concludes by stating that “for the enforcement of the law, the draft legislation must entail the corresponding allocations of resources and support from the Autonomous Community.”
