SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 9th May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Ben Magec-Ecologistas en Acción has submitted objections to the bill regulating holiday lets in the Canary Islands, which includes the endorsement of a suspension for this type of accommodation and the introduction of a specific tourist levy.
Highlighting the need for studies on the number of properties and the enforcement of a “transparent” punitive system, the federation points out in a statement that there are over 54,000 registered holiday lets in the Canary Islands, an increase of 14,000 since the bill was proposed, offering close to 200,000 lodging spaces.
They argue that this has created a “ripple effect”, leading to approximately 70 new holiday lets being established every day, not to mention the “countless irregular properties” advertised on various online platforms.
“This issue is only exacerbating and contributing to real estate speculation, gentrification, the conversion of residential areas into tourist spots, housing shortages, rising property prices, and consequently displacing local residents from their communities,” they explain.
Along the same lines, they note that the leniency of the Canary Islands Government in this matter is resulting in housing “losing its social purpose.”
For instance, in the town of La Oliva (Fuerteventura), three out of every ten properties are being used as holiday lets, “forcing out and displacing local residents from their towns and neighbourhoods, making it impossible for thousands of Canary Islanders to access housing,” caution environmentalists.
In this regard, they stress that the Canary Islands Government “not only fails to fulfill its duty to safeguard the common good but also promotes actions that are completely counterproductive and pave the way for the transformation of all island areas into tourist hotspots, pushing aside the residential, urban, and even natural park usage of the land.”
Consequently, they argue that “regulations that oversee, monitor, and restrict holiday lets and address the severe housing crisis in the islands are essential and urgently required.”
Ben Magec deems the existing bill “inadequate” as it “fails to address the current issue and, in fact, exacerbates and prolongs it.”
The federation also suggests, among other proposals, that the proportion of holiday properties implemented should be tied to the number of constructed and inhabitable properties rather than those planned.
