The mayor of Santa Cruz of Tenerife, Jose Manuel Bermudez, stated on Monday regarding the potential construction of a hotel in Las Teresitas that “this location is not the Cradle of the Soul“, alluding to the controversy surrounding a tourism project in Puertito de Adeje.
Speaking to Radio Club Tenerife as reported by EFE, Bermúdez emphasized that the planned tourist development in Las Teresitas on a publicly owned plot has been part of municipal planning since 2005, hence “it is not a recent development nor something instigated or proposed by this mayor.”
He further highlighted that in the event of declassification of this plot, there should be a “justification to undervalue public land”, and amusingly suggested that it could be suitable for “an urban garden.”
He clarified that the decision on whether a hotel can be constructed on that plot is a “political determination”, and he underscored that during his tenure as mayor, “the only action taken was to retain its status in the planning phase. It has not been developed.”
Bermúdez also pointed out that Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with 2,600 hotel beds, lacks a single holiday hotel along its coast.
He argued that the municipal government plans a series of initiatives in Las Teresitas including sanitation projects, stormwater drainage systems, lighting installations, a promenade, and addressing the accessibility issues to the beach.
He added, “All these endeavours necessitate a planning adjustment, which we are currently working on, with an estimated investment ranging between 30 and 40 million Euros.”
Bermúdez expressed, “It would be advantageous if we could utilise a public plot to attract private funding for this venture.”
“While it’s possible to seek 40 million Euros externally at a public level, it is not anticipated to be a straightforward task,” noted the mayor of Santa Cruz, elaborating that the most substantial operation in progress within the city is the renovation of Viera y Clavijo park costing 12 million Euros.
Additionally, the mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has proposed considering the implementation of a fourth tourism moratorium in the Canary Islands.
He evaluated that the preceding three moratoriums “have prevented the construction of new hotel accommodations”, but simultaneously, “an added complication has arisen: holiday rentals.”
Bermúdez referenced other contributing factors causing concern among the locals that demand scrutiny as well: the rise in caravans and motorhomes, and the encouragement from authorities for tourists to venture beyond the confines of hotels.
